arise in having two examinations. Firstly, the DOEshould have ensured that a reasonably equal andsimilar level of difficulty was maintained for theidentical subject in both the New and Old Syllabiexamination papers. According to the findings andas it was accepted by the Court, 16 it was revealed thatthe given level of difficulties had been unreasonablydifferent which was an injustice to the candidates............. one of my two children sat for the exam in theold syllabus and the other sat for the new one. Theone who sat the old syllabus, got high ranks when theoriginal results were released, but had gone downtremendously when the results were given the nexttime. The one who did the new syllabus originally waslow on a low rank and had gone up this time..........- a participants of the ‘Sambhashana’, July 2012.Residual IssuesPublic TrustPublic trust is laid on the responsible behaviourof government institutions, commonly basedon transparency and accountability. Thus, thecandidates were not happy with the results receivedby them and there was criticism against the DOE. Thisis an important factor of trust concerning the results.According to the Minister of Higher Education, as at12.00 noon on 17 January 2012, there were 57,000 17candidates, out of 295,317 18 (approximately 19%)candidates who sat for the examination, madeapplications for re-correction of the results. This isan evidence of loss of trust of the results issued bythe Department of Examinations.University admissions are based on the result sheetsprepared after re-correction of answer scripts, anda one month period was given to students to applyfor re-correction. In 2009, changes were found in thegiven Z-Score after the re-correction in 1.28 percentof the total number of applications made.Solution birth of another problemIt is consoling to see that the crisis has been solvedby providing more opportunities to the distressedcandidates to proceed with higher education. But stillit is confusing why the UGC proposed four optionsto the Supreme Court to settle the matter, whileeveryone knew what the best option was. It appearsthat the UGC was reluctant to take a progressivedecision. Meanwhile, the loss of time, money, mentalstability and trust on the existing education systemare the negative factors that can never be recovered.Hence, it is vital that take immediate and necessaryaction is taken by the authorities to restore thepublic confidence and trust.University Entrance ExaminationThe whole education system today has been deviatedfrom a value-based and knowledge-based education,to a university admission-based education which isthe cause of the present drawback in the educationsystem. In order to move forward for a National FreeEducation System, it is high time to consider theGCE A/L as a qualifying examination, and not as aselection test for University education.Under the present circumstances, several questionsarise in the mind of an ordinary person: What isthe objective of the GCE A/L? Is it an examinationfor University entrance? If it is not meant for theselection for Universities, what is the best wayof selection? Is the Z-Score the most appropriateapproach in ensuring fairness in selection? Morethan all of these, the underlining factor is thetransparency and accountability of the educationadministration. Was the process transparent? Whois accountable for what?<strong>Transparency</strong> and AccountabilityThe lack of transparency and accountabilityshown during the crisis by the authoritarian andbureaucratic education administrators, includingboth Ministers was evident. This has two faces;one is failure to perform as required, and other isirresponsibility.As the former Dean, Faculty of Law, Universityof Colombo commented “.... I am in view that theUniversity Grants Commission should publishopenly every year its admission policy, criteriaadopted to select candidates, each candidate’s marksand ranking, ...... <strong>Transparency</strong> will not only makecandidates trust the institution and the decisionmaking process, but also cause the institute to beresponsible and accountable” 19 ....[emphasis added],transparency and accountability are two sides of acoin that are inter-linked and inter-related.Durable SolutionsFurthermore, issues as to what prompted theintroduction of the Z score, disparities in the facilitiesand resources available for teaching and learningin popular national schools and rural schools,inadequacy in the number of university admissionswith all those who pass A/L qualifying for highereducation have to be given due consideration. Afterall, state-sponsored education is a fundamentalcornerstone of the <strong>Sri</strong> <strong>Lanka</strong>n state structure.16. Ibid 2317. Parliamentary Deb 17 January 2012, vol 206, No.1, col 10118. Parliamentary Deb 17 January 2012, vol 206, No.1, col 7719. SC/FR 29/2012| 5