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Education quality not upto expected level, says Minister

There are about 190,000 teachers islandwide and though a majority of them perform their duties well, it is regrettable that the quality of education is not upto the expected level. This is one of the reasons there are tuition classes scattered islandwide, said Minister of Human Resources Development, Education and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku.

"Amidst criticism most teachers perform their duties well and if not we are unable to achieve the present level in education. Teachers should continue their service despite what is said against them," he said.

Dharmaraja College was the alma mater of several national leaders, who struggled for political and cultural independence from the colonial masters. Even today, the college is in the forefront of maintaining those qualities and preserving them for posterity, Dr. Kodithuwakku said.

Speaking as the chief guest of the 2001 annual prize-giving of the college, he said the President had recently stated that students should report to police if they are not taught properly, and even stage Satyagrahas against teachers.

"We should not give such bad advice to children," the minister said.

"We have entered a competitive world and we need knowledge and good qualities to prosper.

"The President says under her regime education achieved a lot but the percentage of those who failed English had risen to 66.7 at present from 57.9 in 1994. She accuses us of reducing funds allocated for education but I assure that we will never do so," the minister added.

"We have more than 23,000 English teachers but they teach English as a second language. Teachers will be trained to enable them to teach all subjects in the English medium soon," he said.

Principal S. M. Keerthiratne made the welcome speech. Central Province Chief Minister W. M. P. B. Dissanayake and Kandy district MP Chitra Mantilaka also participated.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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