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History is a must to build a good nation - Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku

Maharagama special correspondent, Vehelle Piyathilake

The public as well as our historians blame the exclusion of the subject, 'History' from the school curriculum from grade 6 to 11. History is a must to build a good nation. The present government wishes to get their views to correct this mistake. Politicians are unable to do everything. That is why I made up my mind to call this seminar of historians. I always respect and take up the views and the proposals of veterans".

The Minister of Human Resources Development Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku said at a seminar organised by the National Institute of Education (NIE) recently at Sausiripaya, Colombo to formulate a guidance to teach history in schools to fit the 21st Century.

Speaking further the Minister said: It is useless blaming the people who excluded history from the school curriculum in the past. We have decided to rectify the mistake for the good of the children and the nation. One must know his history to build his present and future. That is an universally accepted fact.

There are so many appeals from the historians to make history a independent subject in the school curriculum which is now amalgamated with social studies.

In my opinion today we must teach our children our nation's history to secure the integrity, peace and harmony of all the ethnic groups of the country as we are a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-linguistic country.

The director general of NIE Dr. G. B. Gunawardana conducted the seminar.

Welcome speech was made by the Assistant Director General of the NIE Dr. Nandasena Gamachchige. Opening the seminar Prof. Bastianpillai said "The lack of knowledge of history has caused much harm to the nation. The number of students in the universities is getting lesser and lesser yearly. Even some of our parents also think that history as an uneconomical subject in the long run of their children's lives. And also the fact that subject history is being violated and excluded from the school curriculum as a independent subject causes this damage.

We appeal to the education authorities to rectify this mistake at the earliest and make history a independent subject in the school curriculum and if possible make it a compulsory subject from grade one upto grade 11 at least.

Dr. Mrs. Lona Devaraja said "Children are our future. They design the present for the future. History subject has been excluded from the school curriculum for last three decades. History is the criteria of a nation's civilization and the good name.

According to my notion every child must be taught his history from grade 1 to grade 13 and it must be a independent and compulsory subject for all children.

The representatives of Sri Lanka History Society Prof. Mendis Rohanadeera, Prof. Malanie Edagama, Prof. Gamini Kiriella, Dr. Anuzisiya Senadhiraja (South Eastern University), Prof. Sittampalam of Jaffna University, Prof. Karunadasa, Prof. Mangala Ilangasinghe, Prof. Wimalaratne and Master teachers, R. P. Jayawardana (Yatinuwara), D. K. Peramune (Gampola) and Sarath Jayawardena (NIE) expressed their views and put forward proposals.

The vote of thanks was proposed by the Deputy Director General NIE Dr. Dhammika Bibile.

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