Disclaimer: Here’s something we have just received from a Parent. If the School has an explanation, we will be more than happy to publish alongside.
Editor
Students in Grade 5 sat for the scholarship examination last month. To the shock of many, the student who was ranked first in the entire grade (Grade 4 – 2024) in the main subjects—English, Sinhala, Mathematics, and Environment—failed to secure even the pass mark at this critical exam.
How can it be that the best student of the grade, celebrated in term tests repeatedly, could not pass the scholarship exam, while many others who consistently performed below in school tests managed to pass—some even with flying colours?
Among parents of the primary section, it is no secret that this child has been given special treatment by teachers and sectional heads from Grade 1 to 5. Throughout, this child has bypassed rules applicable to the rest of his colleagues. The general policy is a student can only participate one out of the five bands and choirs in primary section. But he has the privilege of participating in four out of five which makes him the most favoured student among the primary music teachers. Also, he has repeatedly bullied other kids, but teachers, sectional heads and deputy principal have again and again turned blind eye. Both father and mother are virtually “resident” inside the school during school hours. Class teachers are offered various monetary and non-monetary benefits, including school transport, and even personal errands such as shopping trips for certain teachers.
It is also widely spoken among parents that term test papers are sometimes circulated to them through WhatsApp ahead of exams.
We have seen great principals and teachers at Royal—educators who upheld dignity and fairness. But today, a few teachers and administrators, acting like a mafia, have tarnished that respect, dragging the noble profession into disgrace. As Harry Truman once said, “The buck stops here.” Therefore, I ask the Principal of Royal: how can something of this nature happen under your watch? How can the so-called “best student” fail while others pass?
This is not just a disappointment; it is a disgrace to the teaching community. And let us be clear—this is only the tip of the iceberg. If teachers compromise fairness in academics, how can parents have faith that they will treat all students equally in any other matter?
Comments
Post a Comment