Scholarship Examination


The Scholarship Examination is a highly competitive Sri Lankan examination 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. Based on the results of the exam, students could transfer to prominent national schools. The exams are held in two mediums: Sinhala, and tamil

History

The examinations were introduced by the late Hon. 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 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.

School rankings

;Boys Schools
  1. Royal College, Colombo 07
  2. Dharmaraja College, Kandy
  3. Maliyadeva Boy's College, Kurunegala
  4. Ananda College, Colombo 10
  5. Nalanda College, Colombo 10
  6. D. S. Senanayake College, Colombo 07
  7. Mahinda College, Galle
  8. St.Sylvester College, Kandy
  9. Bandaranayake college, Gampaha
  10. Isipathana College, Colombo 05
  11. Thurstan College, Colombo 03

    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 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