New Z score: SC refuses motion for commission

Jayantha DE SILVA

The Supreme Court yesterday refused a motion filed by the Higher Education Ministry seeking the appointment of a commission to formulate a new Z score system in respect of selecting students to universities based on the GCE (A- L) examination results.

The Bench comprised Chief Justice Dr Shirani A Bandaranayake and Justices K Sri Pavan and Nimal Gamini Ameratunge.

Senior State Counsel Nerin Pulle appeared for the Attorney General. The respondents cited Commissioner General of Examinations W N G Pushpakumara, University Grants Commission, Higher Education Minister Bandula Gunawardana and Prof R O Thatill of the Peradeniya University.

The petition filed by 17 petitioners including the Ceylon Teachers' Union said the common formula applied to calculate the Z score is irrational, unjustifiable, arbitrary and discriminatory as two entirely different classes of candidates have been treated equally. Furthermore the first, second and third respondents have failed to apply the statistical method of Z score in a scientifically and mathematically acceptable manner to select students to universities. The motion was supported by Attorney at Law Sanjeewa Kaluarachchi. The petition will be called again on June 30.