He says especially children preparing for the grade five scholarship exam have been denied the opportunity to enjoy childhood.

They have been forced to study hard, with psychiatrists claiming 20 per cent of part of their brain go dead as a result, said Dissanayake during the budget debate on the votes of the Ministry of Education.

Schoolchildren should be allowed to learn under total freedom and good mentality, said the MP.

Responding, education minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said a final decision would be taken with regard to the scholarship exam following an extensive dialogue.