Changes to Grade 1 admissions Circular, to prevent corruption: MoE
View(s):The Education Ministry intends to introduce changes to the Circular on Grade 1 admissions, to prevent corruption in its selection processes, in National schools.
Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has appointed a committee to introduce a foolproof method in the selection process. It is also suggested to introduce a system where schools display details of the modus operandi, names and addresses of the children, and their eligibility for admission, while safeguarding their privacy.
These lists will be displayed on the school notice board or via their websites.
Persons who have complaints against any candidate in the list, could make their representations to the school authority or, the Dept of Education (DoE) in writing.
These steps have been taken in view of numerous complaints received in the past, of irregularities and corruption, in the selection process adopted in the popular schools in the country.
It is alleged that applicants have submitted false documents pertaining to their places of residence.
The Government, under the policy ‘Nearest school is the best school’ introduced in 2016, gives priority to students resident within the ‘feeder area’ determined by the DoE. – CC