The Government has not unfairly increased the Cut-off-Marks for the admission of students to schools for 2021 on the results of the Grade 5 Scholarship Exam, Education Professor G.L. Peiris yesterday said in Parliament.
The Cut-off-Marks are determined in accordance with the students’ performances at the exam, Minister Prof. Peiris said.
The Minister was responding to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa under the Standing Order 27/2 regarding the Cut-off-Marks for the Grade 5 Scholarship Exam.
“Based on the exam results, the Cut-off-Marks for admission to schools for 2021 have been raised abnormally. As a result, the dreams of many children have shattered. Their parents have been frustrated. This situation has arisen because of an increase in the number of marks required for admission to the National Schools from 6 to 10. Therefore, to enter a leading school in Colombo, one has to obtain over 160 and over 82 for one subject. Such a large change in the Cut-off-Marks is problematic and the Government should pay special attention to it,” the Opposition Leader said.
Minister Prof. Peiris said in reply that Cut-off-Marks is determined by the skills of the children. He said that the marks are determined transparently.
