The Education Ministry has planned to hold Grade 5 scholarship exam only to provide scholarships and no popular school preferences, Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said.

The Minister of Education has already taken necessary steps to initiate this program. This decision was taken as parents have made the exam such a competition that children have to suffer, he further stated. 

He made this observation addressing a gathering at Nugawela Central Collage yesterday, organized to marked 132nd birth commemoration of Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara. 

Parents have turned the scholarship exam in to a huge competition and that should be changed immediately, the Minister said, adding that all children should be given their childhood.

He added that all 10,161 schools in the country are to be developed so there will be no need of requesting popular schools. New subjects and technology to be introduced. Teachers are to be selected from school basis. Teachers and principals will be properly trained. Education will be revolutionized, he further mentioned.