Criticizing the government’s decision to prevent student transfers among national schools for Advanced Level classes, the UNP today accused the move of being another ploy to enroll students for popular schools according to the preference of politicians.

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena, at a press briefing yesterday (11), had announced that student transfers among national schools for Advanced Level classes have been prevented by the Ministry of Education through a circular issued.

“It is clear that such circulars are issued to fill the vacancies for students at popular schools in the country through political lists,” UNP MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said on Friday.

There are plenty of things the country’s Education Ministry should do, instead of issuing circulars preventing students from transferring from one national school to another, he said.

The Kurunegala District parliamentarian stated that the ministry is not allowing a student to transfer to another school, if the student’s current school teaches the A/L syllabus he wishes to follow. “This is wrong.”

Because, if a student from a rural school, which may lack necessary staff or facilities, studies hard and through great effort and ambition obtains the highest marks in the exam, he should have the opportunity to transfer to any school he sees fit, he said.

“The Education Ministry is in the process of eliminating such opportunities,” the UNP MP told media at a press briefing. (AdaDerana)