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Heightened security at Exams Dept to prevent leaks: Ed.Min.
View(s):Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has decided to beef up security at the Exams Dept, to prevent leak of question papers.
The decision was taken due to the misdemeanours reported at last year’s GCE A/L exam, when parts of certain exam papers had been leaked, while some papers had mistakes.
Minister Kariyawasam said that, at the time of the leak, the Dept employed only two Data Entry clerks for the job, with each in possession of a password. Hence, only they could have been responsible for the leak.
He said, six Data Entry clerks are employed, each with a password, and there will no longer be any protection of culprits like before, when no punishments were given nor was anyone sacked.
“If a leak or any such thing occurs now, all six will have to go home,” he said. “Also a police post will be set up within the Dept.”
The minister further said that he has instructed the Exams Commissioner tosend a team from the Dept to Japan, UK, USA and Singapore to gain knowledge of security measures and of new technology used in the field.
Exams Commissioner W.M.N.J. Pushpakumara said they already employ security measures such as CCTV cameras and body checking.
He said that, under the guidance of the Education Minister, they will bring about changes and improve the quality in the examination system as well as in its supervision.
He said that, in future, candidates will be able to apply for exams online. Also, advanced testing methods such as “item banks” will be introduced.
- Damith Wickramasekara