Education Ministry Revises Requirements For National Top Ten & Presidential Scholarship Amidst Public Outrage

Following the unexpected decision taken by the organizers of Edexcel A’ Level Examinations to move up the examinations previously scheduled to be held during May/June to 26^th April, the Ministry of Education made the move to allow students to withdraw their applications to sit in this exam series – whereby students who retract their applications will be given the chance to take part of examination scheduled for October/November.

When the decision was made public, the Ministry had stated that only students sitting in the exams in April would be eligible for National Top Ten Awards and the Presidential High Achiever’s Scholarship. This was met with outrage by students, schools and also parents who had publicly expressed their frustration on the matter through social media.

Hence, as per the tweet by the Minister of Education, Dr. Aishath Ali, the Ministry had revised the eligibility requirement for the National Top Ten Awards and the Presidential High Achiever’s Scholarship to include students sitting either exams series, April/May or October/November – taking into account that this be their first sitting for the exam.

The Minister also further states that the Ministry has asked schools to collect their opinion of students regarding their preferred duration to sit the exams

Whilst students can withdraw from the Edexcel A’ Level Examinations for the April sitting, Higher Secondary School (HSC) that is scheduled to be held from 13^th June to 17^th June, will go on as planned.