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A qualification process for O/Ls

19 Jan 2021

  • Exceptional students to do exam earlier

  • Those who fall short to sit later than others

  • Exam results to factor in pre-exam performance 

  By Hiranyada Dewasiri   A credit score system is to be introduced through which exceptional students could sit for their General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary Level examinations (O/Ls) even before grade 11, as they presently do, while students who fall short of the required credit score could sit for their O/Ls later than grade 11. Speaking to The Morning yesterday (18), Education Reforms, Open Universities, and Distance Learning Promotion State Ministry Secretary Dr. Upali M. Sedere said that these reforms are a part of curriculum reforms to be implemented in 2023. “Under the 2023 curriculum reforms, a student will have to complete 180 credits in a module system to be eligible to sit for their O/Ls through grades 9, 10, and 11. Students who take more modules will be able to take a fast-track to their O/Ls, and students who have not completed their credits by grade 11 will be given two more terms to do so to be eligible for the exam.” The reforms are to be presented to Parliament this week. At present, all students in the national education system are eligible to sit for the O/Ls, which serves as a qualification for the GCE Advanced Level examination two years later. This new curriculum will contain three-month self-learning-based modules for each term and no yearly textbooks. However, Dr. Sedere mentioned that there will be a limit on the number of modules that can be followed by a student per school term, as well as a minimum number of modules to be completed per term. Another radical change to be brought in by these reforms is that the exam alone would no longer determine the O/L results obtained by the student, as the present 100% weightage given to the examination paper will be reduced. “The O/L exam paper will carry a lesser weightage of around 40%, where around 60% of the weightage of the exam mark will be based on school work,” Dr. Sedere explained. He added that schools will have school performance tests, where the Department of Examinations will be appointing panels for schools to conduct the evaluation. However, Dr. Sedere acknowledged that a downside of these reforms, and the entire fast-track system, would be that it might intensify parental pressure on students to complete modules sooner, to finish their O/Ls earlier. “Students might face parental pressure to complete modules soon; we will have to discuss this, as the fast-tracking of modules is a decision to be made by the student and the teacher together.” Further elaborating on the 2023 curriculum reforms, Dr. Sedera claimed that under this system, students will be able to select subjects according to their ability and preference. Fifty percent of the modules to be completed will consist of compulsory subjects, such as first and second languages, English, mathematics, science, social studies, history, religion, health, and sports, though their present nature will be subjected to changes.


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