Archives

Sinhala only, Sri campaign in the north origins of ethnic war - Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku

by Maharagama special correspondent, Vehelle Piyathilake

"Legalising Sinhala as the state language in 1956 and the anti-Sri campaign that broke out in the North in 1958 are the origins of the ethnic war which has paralysed the country for the last twenty years," said the Minister of Human Resources Development, Education and Cultural Affairs Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku speaking at an awards presentation ceremony organised by 'Dainty' Higher Studies Institute of Maharagama held at the National Youth Services Council recently.

The minister added, "due to the racialist policies of the Sinhalese politician of that time the long standing brotherhood, peace and harmony among the ethnic groups was shattered. Another foolish action which was taken by them in 1961 was nationalising of all the schools which were concluded and administered by the various religious organisations. Politics crept into the schools. Administration was horribly unsatisfactory. The students were poisoned with malicious ideas.

There was no National Education Policy. Teachers were recruited without the minimum qualifications. The conduct of the children has gone from bad to worse. The teaching service has become merely a profession. Therefore private tuition classes were started. Students and parents lost faith in classroom education in government schools. They began to seek the help of the tuition classes for the present education race. By adopting Sinhala as the State language, and peoplising the schools politicians in that era boasted saying that they have eradicated the brahmin clan.

The poor students in remote areas and urban areas learned only in the Sinhala medium. But rich people took their children to foreign countries and taught them English. The ultimate result was that again the children of the higher class who studied in English in other countries came back and became the rulers of the country.

The government spends Rs. 15,000 million on education yearly. I am in a dilemma whether that money serve the purpose.

At present there are six thousand excess Sinhala medium teachers. The problem is that some teachers stick to urban schools, from their appointment to retirement. There are thousands of excess teachers in urban schools. This unhealthy situation must be rectified very soon.

The Managing Director of Dainty Higher Institute of Education Desmond de Zoysa and the Director of Navamaga Education Centre, Maharagama Siri Kumara also spoke.

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