All arrangements are in place to hold the GCE Ordinary Level Examination in compliance with health guidelines issued by the Government health authorities to control the spread of COVID-19, Education Minister Prof G. L. Peiris yesterday. The GCE Ordinary Level examination will begin today at centres around the country in compliance with the instructions given by the health authorities.
Forty special centres have been established to meet any emergency situation. The ministry has already allocated about Rs. 50 million among the centers for health essentials and precautionary steps.
Minister Prof. Peiris requested parents not to be hesitant to send their children for the examination as every step has been taken to conduct a safe examination following very strict health guidelines.
Addressing the media after inspecting a GCE Ordinary Level examination center at the Maliyadeva Model School in Kurunegala, the Minister said a comprehensive mechanism is in place to ensure the highest standards of health and safety for the students and supervisory/administrative staffers at the examination centres. Nearly 622,000 school and private candidates will sit for the G.C.E. O/L examination 2020 at 4,513 centres from today.
In case an infected student or staffer is reported from any centre, the relevant parties have been informed of the steps that have to be taken. The entire examination is held for nine days from March 1. Accordingly, special public transport services will also be in operation during this period. The Sri Lanka Navy will support the Examination Department to transport the question papers to the centers set up in the Northern Islands accessible only by sea.
He said the Government is giving priority to formulate a mechanism through which students in all classes can complete their school education without any delay. The GCE Ordinary Level examination results are expected to be released in June and the Advanced Level classes are due to commence in July. “Under this programme, the learning time of the children will not be wasted and the results of the 2020 GCE Advanced Level examination will also be released by April,” he added.
Arrangements will be made for the enrolment of qualified students to State universities in September this year. Prof. Peiris said the Government will not allow the students to wait for months to gain university admission after the Advanced Level results are released.
Commissioner General of Examinations B. Sanath Pujitha and Ministry Media Secretary Buddhika Wickremadara were present on the occasion.
