Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Complaints to Human Rights Commission re the Z score – reach 1675 so far



The latest twist in the tale of the Z score calamity is that a large number of students who personally believe that their rights have been violated have filed complaints with the HRC, hoping the latter would intercede on their behalf for them to obtain justice.

Put simply, the calculation of the Z score is only understood by a few experts in statistics, whose baby it was. I was created to find a means to restrict entry into the University, only for the places available. The cut off mark for each Type of Degree, University and Faculty was simply done by way of the Z score one received in the District where one sat the exam, to match places with entrants.

Once it was proved that the previous calculation was flawed, a new calculation was done, and that resulted in some students getting a higher Z score and others a lower one. Of course those with the lower scores are the ones who feel their fundamental rights to enter the University System in Sri Lanka has been violated. They are therefore doing everything in their power to ensure that they do not miss out on the coveted University place, and are therefore demanding justice in light of their initial belief that they also entered University, and now the dream is shattered!

The opposition has demanded that these rights be granted, but in reality that may result in 4,000 additional students being admitted to University at the next intake. A further complication arises over which University and faculty they should be admitted to. Medicine, considered within the Bio Sciences Faculty; would they have entered Medical College under the previous score, and should they therefore be allowed to get into medical school despite the current score showing they cannot enter? These are real issues to be resolved, which have no resolution to date

On a broader matter, A level results determine the direction a Sri Lankan student’s future. Many mistakenly believe the better the score, the better their life chances are, when in fact one’s opportunities and direction is determined by a whole series of facts, with Z score being just one. It is important to keep this balance in mind and not allow one’s whole mental well being to be destroyed due to a result. It is easier to say, but there have been a few attempted suicides of students who have received a lower score, and who have suddenly seen their belief in a particular field of study being shattered. It is important that when the authorities play with the lives of students they do not shatter their belief in the Free Education system of Sri Lanka, which appears to have happened lately. We must take measures to restore confidence in the Examination system, by a sea change!! What is the that change?

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