30% of Vanni students miss A/L Examinations due to aerial bombardment

[TamilNet, Saturday, 16 August 2008, 00:12 GMT]
“Continuing hostilities in the region have seriously hampered the education of students in the region, and out of 762 students in the district only about 500 were able to sit for GCE Advanced Level examination," M.Theivendiran, Mullaiththeevu Zonal Director of Education told media Friday.

"Due to the hostile situation prevailing in Thu'nukkaay and Mallaavi, civilians are daily on the move, seeking safer areas. Students in such households are unable to continue their education," Theivendiran said.

“Nearly 25,000 students in Mullaiththeevu district, studying at the 54 schools in Thu'nukkaay Educational Zone and 53 schools in Mullaiththeevu educational Zone, are affected by the war. Education authorities have relocated 37 schools out of the total 54 schools in Thu'nukkaay Educational Zone due to the on-going military activities," Theivendiran added.

“As a result, we had to relocate some of the examination centres. The principals of the affected schools took with them the important documents to safer areas. The furniture and school equipments were abandoned during the relocation.

“The A/L Exams commenced on August 06th, and due to SLAF air-raids in Mullaiththeevu district that afternoon, students fled from the examination centres and returned to the examination hall only after an hour," Theivendiran said.

The Examination Department is conducting the examination in two phases, the first beginning on 6 August and ending on 21 August, and the second, starting on 25 August and continuing till 3 September, to facilitate Provincial Council elections in North Central and Sabragamuwa provinces on 23 August, according to Education officials.