Archives

Tutory owners summoned following student clashes

by Manjula Fernando

Education Minister Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku has summoned a meeting of tutory owners in Colombo and the suburb at Isurupaya on August 10 to discuss precautions amidst information that students involved in recent clashes were attending these tutories. Over 80,000 school children flock to tutories in Nugegoda during the weekend. Despite three schools in Maharagama and Nugegoda having closed, their senior classes from grade 10 to prevent further clashes, students meet at these popular tutories during the weekend. Parents and teachers have pointed out that there can be another clash between opposing students at these classes.

School Education Ministry Secretary H. M. Sirisena said that they plan to request the owners to keep a close watch over their students and advise them to go home directly after classes without loitering around.

"We cannot enforce new rules and regulations for these mass scale tuition classes since they are not directly under our purview. But we hope to convince and get their cooperation to put an end to this disturbing trend," Mr. Sirisena said reporters at the Education Ministry yesterday.

Following complaints that tutories also contribute to aggravate the situation the Education Minister has directed the Secretary to prepare a list of tutory owners in Colombo and suburbs to invite them for a discussion.

The first student clash erupted when a group of about 300 Nalanda College students stormed the D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo causing minor damages to its property three weeks ago and since then the clashes had spread to President's College, Maharagama, St.John's College, Nugegoda and Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya.

Meanwhile, the August vacation for most schools started on Wednesday. The schools selected for paper marking for GCE Advanced Level examination will be closed on the 16. All schools will re-open on August 25.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager