Six teachers, including a school principal, were arrested for allegedly leaking the first question paper of the Grade Five scholarship examination at an examination center in Anuradhapura. The Department of Examinations conducted the arrests after discovering that the individuals had shared photos of the paper using mobile phones.
Investigations revealed that the photos were taken and shared just ten minutes before the exam’s official start time. Among those arrested were the assistant supervisor and six teachers, all of whom had their mobile phones confiscated as evidence. The individuals involved are from government schools in Anuradhapura and Nochchiyagama.
Further inquiries indicated that the leaked paper had been sent to multiple locations, including Anuradhapura, Nochchiyagama, and Colombo. The incident has raised concerns over the integrity of the examination process.
Ceylon Teachers’ Association President, Priyantha Fernando, confirmed the breach, stating, “The confidence in the exam has been compromised. The authorities must strictly enforce the law and impose severe punishments on those responsible for the leak.”
Despite this breach, the 2024 Grade Five scholarship examination was successfully conducted last Sunday (15th) at 2,849 examination centers across the country. Authorities are now investigating the full extent of the leak and taking steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.