The Grade Five Scholarship Examination is a highly competitive examination conducted by the Department of Examinations of the Ministry of Education for 9-10 year old children. Based on the marks, the high achievers could get admission to prominent national schools.Minister Kariyawasam added that the new committee consisting of education experts as well as child psychologists, is expected to be appointed next week.
The Ministry aims to form a panel of committee members which will also include educational reformists, principals and administrative officers who would be able to provide solutions for the existing problems.The expert committee will make recommendations if the Grade 5 Scholarships should be held in the future, he added.
The Minister said the Education Ministry would facilitate the candidates who secure high marks in the Grade 5 Scholarship to enter better schools of their choice in the same district or in Colombo.He said the ministry hopes to implement a program that prevents unhealthy competition whilst ensuring co-operation.
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena recently urged the parents not to use the grade five scholarship examination to determine a child's future and accept the failure at the highly competitive examination without inflicting violence on the child.
The President urged principals of schools to implement a program every year before the results of the scholarship examination are released to educate parents on how to accept the child without violence on the basis of passing or failing the aptitude test. Grade 5 Scholarship Examination is criticized for its highly competitive nature but it is the only way available to most of the intelligent but less privileged students to enter leading schools in the country.