Allegations have surfaced that the government is attempting to politicize school children through the inclusion of controversial questions in the General Public Examination for Advanced Level students at CWW Kannangara Central College in Mathugama, Kalutara District. The questions, reportedly included in the second-term exam, appear to focus heavily on the National People’s Power (NPP), a political party, raising concerns among political leaders and parents.
Attorney-at-Law Udaya Gammanpila, a candidate from the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Party in Colombo District, expressed his concerns during a media conference held today at the party headquarters. Gammanpila questioned whether the inclusion of five questions related to the NPP in the exam was part of a broader government agenda to introduce politics into the school system.
“This question paper, given to students of CWW Kannangara Central College, includes five questions directly related to the NPP. These questions range from inquiries about President Anura’s policy statement to his percentage of votes in the presidential election, his secretary, the scope of the Prime Minister’s role, and the founding year of the JVP. The focus on these topics raises serious questions about the intentions behind such exam content,” Gammanpila said.
According to Gammanpila, this incident represents a troubling trend in which politics infiltrates educational spaces. He argued that such actions are unprecedented in the history of Sri Lanka, highlighting that even during significant national events like the defeat of the LTTE, no such political content was ever introduced into school examinations.
Further criticizing the government, Gammanpila warned that this could be the first step toward politicizing the country’s youth by exploiting their academic environment for political gain. “When we were students, we were told by the JVP to abandon education and engage in politics. Today, however, students are at risk of becoming pawns in a political game,” he added.
In addition to concerns about the politicization of education, Gammanpila addressed a separate issue raised by Advanced Level students across the country. Many students have petitioned the government to postpone the November A/L examinations, citing incomplete coverage of their syllabus due to the disruptions of recent years.
“These students have not had the usual two years to prepare for their exams. Given the unique circumstances, it is only fair that they are given the same amount of preparation time as other students,” Gammanpila argued, emphasizing the importance of the A/L examination in shaping students’ futures.
Gammanpila also expressed frustration with the government’s response, noting that, with Parliament dissolved, there is no direct avenue to contact the President or the Minister of Education. He reiterated his call for the government to listen to the concerns of the students and grant them an additional month to prepare for the critical exams.
“We urge the President and the Minister of Education to act swiftly and fairly in this matter. These students deserve the opportunity to fully prepare for the A/L exams, which are pivotal in determining their future careers,” he concluded.
