SC grants leave on petition to suspend conduct of 2024 A/L exam

On By Pranco

The Supreme Court on December 12 set aside for hearing a Fundamental Rights (FR) petition seeking an interim order suspending the conduct of the GCE Advanced Level exam for 2024.

This order was issued when the relevant petition filed by a candidate for the examination was heard before the three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Chief Justice Murdu Fernando, Justices Jayantha Jayasuriya and Priyantha Fernando today (25).

The FR petition was filed by AM Hansani Kaveesha, a candidate for the examination who resides in Kegalle, with the Commissioner General of Examinations, Minister of Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Secretary of the Ministry of Education and the Attorney General are named as respondents.

The petitioner claims that a Ministry of Education circular dated November 29, 2023 states that 170 days of teaching should be conducted in government schools, government-approved private schools and Pirivenas for the academic year 2024.

However, she has alleged that the decision taken to conduct the GCE Advanced Level examination before the completion of the 170-day study period is a grave injustice to the students appearing for the examination.

The petition also points out that grave injustice is being done to nearly 300,000 students who are appearing for the exam for the first time this year.

Accordingly, the petitioner sought a ruling that their fundamental human rights were violated by taking the GCE Advanced Level examination before the completion of the 170-day study period, and an order annulling the decision to exam to be held from November 25 to December 20. .

The petition further requests that an interim order be issued to suspend the conduct of the examination until this petition is heard and a final decision is made.

However, the President’s Counsel Tirantha Walaliyadde appeared in place of the petitioner and sought amendment of the petition and giving date for confirmation of facts.

Accordingly, the court granted leave to file an amended petition and ordered that the said petition be called on December 12 for confirmation of the facts.

The 2024 A/L survey began at 8:30 am today (25) across 2,312 centers nationwide. This year, a total of 333,185 candidates are participating in the GCE Advanced Level Examination.