Scholarship Examination

Last updated

The Scholarship Examination (also known as the Grade 5 exam) is a highly competitive Sri Lankan examination first introduced in 1947, [1] conducted by the Department of Examinations of the Ministry of Education. It is optional for students to undertake it during the final year of primary school (Grade 5; usually aged 9–10). Based on the results of the exam, students could transfer to prominent national schools. The exams are held in two mediums: Sinhala and Tamil.

Contents

History

The examinations were introduced by the late Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara, who took the initiative in establishing free education when he was the Minister of Education. Under this initiative, the government established Madhya Maha Vidyalayas (MMV - Central Colleges) that were scattered around the island. The Scholarship Examination was a means for gifted students from villages to move to better schools with government scholarships.

2021 scholarship exam - school cut-off marks

Boys Schools

  1. Royal College, Colombo - 188
  2. Dharmaraja College, Kandy - 187
  3. Ananda College, Colombo - 186
  4. Maliyadeva College - 184
  5. Kingswood College - 181
  6. Nalanda College - 179
  7. Richmond College - 176
  8. St. Anne's College - 174
  9. Rahula College - 171
  10. St. Sylvester's College - 169
  11. Mahinda College - 166
  12. D. S. Senanayake College - 164
  13. Isipathana College - 161
  14. Thurstan College - 159
  15. Bandaranayake College - 157
  16. Vidyartha College - 155
  17. St. Aloysius' College - 154
  18. Mahanama College - 152
  19. Joseph Vaz College - 150
  20. Ashoka Vidyalaya - 147

Source: Ministry of Education, 2021 [2]

Girls Schools

  1. Visakha Vidyalaya - 187
  2. Devi Balika Vidyalaya - 185
  3. Maliyadeva Girls' College - 183
  4. Mahamaya Balika Vidyalaya - 181
  5. Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya - 180
  6. Southlands College - 177
  7. Rathnavali Balika Vidyalaya - 167
  8. Sujatha Vidyalaya - 175
  9. Holy Family Convent - 173
  10. Anula Vidyalaya - 171
  11. Girls' High School - 168
  12. St, Paul's Girls School - 167
  13. Sanghamitta Balika Vidyalaya - 165
  14. Janadhipathi Balika Vidyalaya, Kurunegala - 163
  15. Viharamahadevi Balika Vidyalaya, Kiribathgoda - 161
  16. Pushpadana Girls' College - 159
  17. Yasodara Devi Balika Maha Vidyalaya - 157
  18. Sacred Heart Convent - 155
  19. Ferguson High School - 153
  20. St. Joseph Balika Vidyalaya, Nugegoda - 150

Controversies

In recent years the exam has become extremely competitive, therefore many claim that it puts unnecessary pressure on students at an early age. It has been considered as a "parent's" exam rather than a student's. It is necessary to carry out a study on the long-term success of the scholars.

This exam is now being used as a tool for Political leaders in Sri Lanka to neglect the development of rural schools. [ citation needed ] [3]


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kegalle</span> Town in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka

Kegalle is a large town in Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka. It is located on the Colombo–Kandy road, approximately 78 km (48 mi) from Colombo, 40 km (25 mi) from Kandy, 32 km (20 mi) from Kurunegala and 46 km (29 mi) from Avissavella. It is the main town in the Kegalle District, which is one of two districts which comprise Sabaragamuwa Province. The town is governed by an Urban Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kurunegala</span> City in Sri Lanka

Kurunegala is a major city in Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of the North Western Province and the Kurunegala District. Kurunegala was an ancient royal capital for 50 years, from the end of the 13th century to the start of the 14th century. It is at the junction of several main roads linking to other important parts of the country. It is about 94 kilometres (58 mi) from Colombo, 42 kilometres (26 mi) from Kandy and 51 kilometres (32 mi) from Matale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gampaha</span> City in Sri Lanka

Gampaha is an urban city in Gampaha District, Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is situated to the north-east of the capital Colombo. It is the sixth largest urban area in Western Province, after Colombo, Negombo, Kalutara, Panadura and Avissawella. Gampaha is also the second largest municipal centre in Gampaha district, after Negombo. Gampaha has a land area of 25.8 ha and is home to the offices of 75 government institutions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Education in Sri Lanka</span> Overview of education in Sri Lanka

Education in Sri Lanka has a long history that dates back two millennia. While the Constitution of Sri Lanka does not provide free education as a fundamental right, the constitution mentions that 'the complete eradication of illiteracy and the assurance to all persons of the right to universal and equal access to education at all levels" in its section on directive principles of state policy at (27. Sri Lanka's population had an adult literacy rate of 96.3% in 2015, which is above average by world and regional standards. Computer literacy in 2017 28.3% and phone users in 2017 105%, website users 32% in 2017. Education plays a major part in the life and culture of the country, which dates back to 543 BC. Sri Lanka's modern educational system modeled after Christian missionary system was brought about by its integration into the British Empire in the 19th century. Education currently falls under the control of both the Central Government and the Provincial Councils, with some responsibilities lying with the Central Government and the Provincial Council having autonomy for others. Education institutions with a tradition dating back to 5 BC are largely ignored by the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maliyadeva College</span> National school in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka

Maliyadeva College is a national school controlled by the Sri Lankan central government. It is located in Kurunegala, Sri Lanka, and was established in 1888 by the Buddhist Theosophical Society, led by Colonel Henry Steel Olcott. It is one of Sri Lanka's oldest schools. Today, the school accommodates 5,000 students. The term "Devans" is used to refer to the former and present pupils of Maliyadeva College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick de Silva Kularatne</span> Sri Lankan (Sinhala Buddhist) educationist and politician

Patrick de Silva Kularatne was a Sri Lankan educationist and politician. He was a Member of the State Council of Ceylon (1942-1947) and Member of Parliament (1960-1965). He served as Principal of Ananda College and Dharmaraja College and established Nalanda College Colombo, Ananda Balika Vidyalaya, Moratuwa Vidyalaya and Dharmapala Vidyalaya. As a member of the executive committee on Education, he played an instrumental role in the realisation of free education from kindergarten to university.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panadura</span> City in Western Province, Sri Lanka

Panadura is a city in Kalutara District, Western Province in Sri Lanka. It is located approximately 27 km (17 mi) south of Colombo and is surrounded on all sides by water; the Indian Ocean, the Bolgoda Lake and river. Panadura is famed as the location of important events in the Buddhist revival movement of Sri Lanka.

Devi Balika Vidyalaya is a public national girls' school in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Girls are admitted at grade six, based on the results of an island-wide scholarship examination. Like other national schools it is controlled by the central government, as opposed to a provincial council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balangoda</span> Town in Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka

Balangoda is a town in Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka, governed by an urban council located 143 kilometres (89 mi) away from Colombo and 43 kilometres (27 mi) from Ratnapura on Colombo - Batticaloa Highway(A4). It is one of the largest towns of the Sabaragamuwa Province. According to the 2001 census, Balangoda has a population of 16,875 and area of 16.2 km2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bandaranayake College, Gampaha</span> National school in Sri Lanka

Bandaranayake College Gampaha is a leading Buddhist Boys' school in Gampaha, Sri Lanka, founded on 18 September 1918. The school has a student population exceeding 5,000 across 8 grades from grade 6 to advanced level classes, on a campus of 2.83 ha. Boys are admitted at grade six, based on the results of an island-wide Scholarship Examination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borella</span> Suburb in Western Province, Sri Lanka

Borella is the largest suburb in Colombo, Sri Lanka represented by divisional code 8.

Dematagoda is a suburb of Colombo, Sri Lanka. It is represented by divisional code 9. It is surrounded by the suburbs of Borella, Maradana and Kolonnawa. The Baseline Road passes through Dematagoda. It is the only location in Sri Lanka to have two railway stations and the first to have a flyover.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maliyadeva Girls' College</span> Public school in Sri Lanka

Maliyadeva Girls' College is a national Buddhist school in Sri Lanka situated in Kurunegala.

Kahatowita(sinhala:කහටෝවිට Tamil:கஹடோவிட) is one of a village in Attanagalla electorate, Gampaha District, Western Province, Sri Lanka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yasodara Devi Balika Maha Vidyalaya</span> Public national school in Gampaha, Gampaha District, Western Province, Sri Lanka

Yasodara Devi Balika Maha Vidyalaya is a girls' school located in Gampaha district in Sri Lanka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E. W. Adikaram</span> Sri Lankan activist (1905–1985)

Kalutara Koralalage Edward Winifred Brito Adikaram was an educationalist, writer, social activist and a philosopher in Sri Lanka. In 1931 he obtained an M.A degree from London School of Oriental Studies and in 1933 a PhD on the thesis "Early History of Buddhism in Ceylon". After returning to Sri Lanka he started to teach in Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte and in 1934, he became the principal of the school. He was a prominent non-violent activist in Sri Lanka.

Maliyadeva Adarsha Maha Vidyalaya is a Buddhist mixed school in Sri Lanka, located in the North Western Province, Sri Lanka.

Samudradevi Balika Vidyalaya is a public girls' school located in Nugegoda, Sri Lanka. It was founded on 5 May 1915 and is considered as the oldest girls' school in Nugegoda.

Deshabandu Jezima Ismail is a Sri Lankan educator, broadcaster and social activist who has also served as an advocate for human rights. She has held several higher positions in fields such as education, human rights and broadcasting. She has also worked in several international organisations on human rights. She is the founder of the Muslim Women's Research and Action Forum (MWRAF), and the Founder and President of the Sri Lanka Muslim Women's Conference (SLMWC). Additionally, she has served as Vice Chancellor of the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, Chairperson of People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), principal of Muslim Ladies College Colombo, and as a teacher at the Devi Balika Vidyalaya.

References

  1. "Education for Economic Development and Prosperity" (PDF). unesco.org. Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  2. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-03-17. Retrieved 2018-03-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Scholarship". pickascholarship. Scholar. Retrieved 26 Feb 2022.