Today, 27 students and their parents filed a Fundamental Rights Petition before the Supreme Court, seeking an order to annul Papers I and II of the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination, which took place on September 15. The petitioners have also called for the examination to be re-conducted.
The petition, filed by attorney Manjula Balasuriya, names the Commissioner General of Examinations, Amith Jayasundara, as well as Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, among others, as respondents.
The petition follows widespread reports of irregularities in the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination. These include allegations of leaking some of the questions in papers. This allegation has led to growing concerns about the fairness of the exam. In recent weeks, parents and educators have expressed frustration over the administration of the exam, prompting legal action.
The Grade 5 Scholarship Exam is a highly competitive national examination in Sri Lanka, taken by students seeking placements in prestigious schools. After the relevant authorities found that some questions had leaked exam authorities decided to remove those questions when in the assessment process. Meanwhile, amidst wide requests from parents, the government decided not to hold the examination considering the difficulties faced by grade 5 students.
