Minimising disaster impact on O/L Exam: Special guidelines formulated – DMC

By Naalir Jamaldeen

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC), in collaboration with the Department of Examinations, has formulated special guidelines and action plans to minimise the impact of disasters during the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination period, Assistant Director of Media of the DMC, Janaka Handunpathiranage said yesterday (1).

Owing to COVID-19 threats, the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination, which was to be held in December 2020, was postponed to March 2021. It commenced yesterday (1) and is being held in 4,513 centres and will conclude on 10 March. A total of 622,352 candidates have registered for the examination this year, Commissioner General of Examinations, Sanath Pujitha said.

The Department of Examinations, with the Provincial Directors of Education, is providing all administrative support and facilities to conduct the examination, and an environment free of hazards and disasters is crucial to hold the examination successfully, especially during this pandemic situation.

Handunpathiranage said it has been indicated in the guidelines that in case any obstacle was caused to the examination, information in that connection can be provided to the hotline 117 of the DMC and any examination issues can be reported on 1911.

An emergency coordinating office has been set up in the Department of Examinations and it will function round the clock from 28 February to 11 March. The telephone numbers of officers who can be contacted for inquiries during the examination period and how to contact them are included in the guidelines and action plan, Handunpathiranage added.