New Grade 8 scholarship examination next year

The Education Ministry is considering introducing a scholarship examination for Grade 8 students next year following a proposal to the effect received by the parliamentary select committee on educational reforms.

Minister Bandula Gunawardena has told the media that the introduction of a new scholarship examination for Grade 8 would minimise the burden on placed on young students by the Grade 5 scholarship examination.

He has observed that a Grade 8 scholarship examination would give the students a second chance to test their abilities at a mature age.

He has noted that many professionals, educationists, political and religious leaders had proposed the introduction of a Grade 8 scholarship examination for students.  However, Gunawardena has said the existing Grade 5 scholarship examination would not be scrapped and would be considered as an efficiency evaluation examination for students once the educational reforms and the Grade 8 scholarship examination were introduced in 2012. (Lankapage)