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Religious or ethnic bases in schools should end to built communal harmony

by Kuliyapitiya group correspondent

It is wrong to categorise the schools on religious or ethnic basis as all are government schools. A Sinhalese could be the principal of a Tamil medium school provided he knew Tamil. At the same time a Buddhist could be the principal of a Catholic or a Christian School. At this stage it is essential to do away with the religious and ethnic bases of schools to build communal and religious harmony. Wayamba Chief Minister Athula Wijesinghe said addressing a press conference held in the chief ministry auditorium.

He said that the Wayamba PC would continue the next 2 1/2 years performing a large range of services utilises the limited resources. The Central Government had cut down the allocation for the Council by 50 per cent, yet the Council would function smoothly without a hindrance with the fullest co-operation and contribution of the officials and employees. The contributions of the teachers, the parents and students are the most important factors in educational development.

The Chief Minister admitted that several schools were closed and the buildings were idling.

He said: 'The schools were closed due to the fault of the parents. They prefer to send their children to the so-called popular schools in the town bypassing the village school. So the village school had to be closed for want of children. Those closed school buildings would be converted into ayurvedic medical centres.

'Referring to the teacher transfers the Chief Minister said that the wrongs committed in the past should be rectified sooner or later. There was an acute shortage of teachers in the difficult schools in Puttalam, Maho, Nikaweratiya and Ibbagamuwa Zones. At the same time there is an excess of teachers in Kurunegala and Giriulla Zones. Such teachers are serving for long periods.

'Learning is a fundamental human right of children. Not only the children in the urban schools but also those in difficult schools in the remote zones have the same right of learning. This fundamental human right would be violated if the transfers were differed or cancelled. We should pay more attention to the necessities of the children. However the reasonable grievances of the transfer teachers would be considered by the Appeal Board.

A mediaman pointed out that there was a Sinhalese principal in a Muslim school in Kurunegala.

The Chief Minister asked, "What is wrong in that? All are government schools. That teacher knows Tamil well and he has the necessary grade. There should be no ethnic or religious basis in schools.

The Wayamba Provincial Director of Health Services Dr. Sunil de Alwis and Provincial Director of Education Mrs. Soma Rajapaksa also participated in this press briefing.

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