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by Talia Jayasekera

Serving and protecting one's country is the ultimate empowering sacrifice a person can make. This is what thousands of Sri Lankans, men and women, are doing by joining our security forces. They not only sacrifice their lives in protecting our nation but also suffer severe disabilities in the process. In a bid to repay them for their courage, we choose to make the lives of their children better and brighter by allocating positions in various schools throughout the country. It is a small gesture by most standards but done with the best of intentions.

But this good deed is reportedly being tarnished with some children of servicemen being deprived the opportunity of education with a power tussle emerging between the Western Province educational authorities and the Education Ministry. Twelve children, placed in schools allocated by the forces welfare societies, have been refused admission to two schools in the Homagama education zone.

Each year, a certain percentage of Grade One placements are allocated for the children of servicemen and women. Selections to a particular school are made by the welfare societies and sent to the National Schools Unit of the Education Ministry. These lists are then forwarded to the respective schools ahead of the new academic year.

"This is not the way servicemen and women, who have served us for many years, should be treated", says Press Secretary to the Education Ministry Mr Vanninayake. "The Provincial Councils are doing them a grave injustice by refusing to admit their children into pre-selected schools".

"Each year, we select 30 children, of forces personnel, through a preliminary interview. They are given priority for Grade 1. After which there is something known as the Appeal Board, where a further 15 children are chosen. The welfare societies then place the children in the schools of their choice based on various criteria", he explained.

"This year, however, Minister Kodituwakku decided not to go through the Appeal Board because of the rampant corruption with its members. The Minister decided to pick 40 children, at once, through the first interview and skip the Appeal Board". "Many servicemen and women have alleged that this Appeal Board selects a further 15 children on favouritism and bribes. They do not give a fair chance to all the children. It has also been said that there is some political influence in the selection as well. A sort of `invisible hand'. For these people, it is merely a political game and they do not care for the servicemen nor the small children", said Mr Vanninayake.

"As a result of the Minister's decision, the Provincial Councils are not happy with the situation and refused admission of these children on the first day of school", he said. "In one instance in the Southern Province, a serviceman, who has been with the forces for over 20 years and lost his limbs in a landmine explosion, brought his child to the school and was turned away by the principal. The serviceman was asked to see the Southern Provincial Educational authorities regarding the matter".

"Instead of getting a straight answer from the authorities he was sent from pillar to post. Finally, out of pure frustration, he came to the Education Ministry in Colombo. His situation was so bad that he had pawned his wife's gold chain for the trishaw fare".

"What can we say to people when such bad things happen? People who have worked hard to serve our country. Minister Kodituwakku is now personally involved in this matter. He has asked the provincial authorities how they can treat the dedicated people of our country in such a manner!", said Vanninayake.

"We are now planning to dissolve the Appeal Board as it not carrying out its designated function. Instead it is doing things according to the wishes of the board members. This is unfair to the hundreds of other servicemen's children".

"The forces welfare societies will continue to compile the lists and send it to the Ministry. We will then place the child accordingly", he said.

Contacted by the Daily News, the Western Province Education authorities made no comment about this matter saying the Education Ministry should be contacted for details.

The corruption in our country has seeped into areas once never thought of. It is easy for such unscrupulous people, holding high places, to wield their authority and power for their own benefit. It is no matter for their conscience that because of their selfishness, someone is being deprived of their rights.

Our armed forces personnel have suffered many hardships with the onset of the ethnic conflict and other problems. Their children are born into as many difficulties as their parents. Demonstrations of such corruption and unfairness will reflect heavily in their lives and mould their future. It should be remembered that the children of today will soon be the adults of tomorrow.

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