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| Tuesday, 11 November 2003 |
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Maharagama special correspondent Most of our teachers in schools, had received their training more than twenty or twenty five years ago. The world is changing rapidly. They do not possess the latest knowledge in education to keep pace with the changing world. Therefore, they need training in-service regularly. The Provincial Council of the Western Province has launched a new project to set up a special training institute to provide them regular training while they are in service. The Chief Minister of the Western Province Reginald Cooray made these observations participating as the chief guest at the annual prize giving ceremony of Kottawa Dharmapala Vidyalaya held recently at the school. The Chief Minister added: We still adhere to the old traditional system of assessing the abilities of the children. We award prizes to the children who show outstanding talent in sports, dancing, music, oratory to those who get best results. Do we assess the conduct of the children or their team work abilities or the children who love nature and environment or those who think of others? These values of children also must be assessed at prize giving ceremonies. We have introduced Saradharma Yaya in schools in the Western province for the purpose. The new concept has achieved much in the conduct of children in schools. The grading of our schools also must be reformed. Today, we grade our schools according to the number of children, buildings, the number of teachers on the staff and other resources such as swimming pools, playgrounds, and the amount of furniture in the schools. But there are schools with less facilities in outstations which show better results. Therefore, we have decided to apply a new system to grade the schools. Result of the exams, administration and environment of the school are the yardsticks to grade a school, according to the new system. It will be implemented from January next year. Producing pandits from schools is not enough for the development of a nation. School leavers must be armed with practical training in something to fit into the local and foreign job market. Science, new technology and Information Technology are the key to the Global Village. Our traditional education system must be reformed accordingly. The principal P. Ratnapala Perera delivered the welcome speech. He emphasised on the lack of building facilities in the school. In replying, the Chief Minister promised to allocate at least Rs. 100,000 for a new classroom building before the end of this year. The Zonal Director of Education Sri Jayawardanapura Mrs. P. B. Dissanayake, Secretary to the Minister of Schools Development H. M. Sirisena, and the Secretary of the Old Student's Association Mangala Hapuarachchi also spoke. The significance of this ceremony is that representatives of different political parties were present on the same stage. The Provincial Minister of Co-operatives and Sports Sunil Jayamini (PA), Provincial Councillors Isura Devapriya, Upali Kodikara, Ananda Tissa Perera, Piyasena Dissanayake (PA), Nimal R. Peeris (UNP), Laxaman Nipunaarachchi (JVP), Chairman of Maharagama Urban Council Chandrasena Masakorala (UNP) and UC Member Sunil Ranasinghe (PA) and Sampath Ranjith Nandakumara (UNP) were present. The Secretary of the School Development Society and press officer of the Samurdhi Authority Senak Ubeysinghe proposed the vote of thanks. Retired teachers who had served long in the school and 15 teachers who had not taken more than day's leave during 2002 were also awarded and felicitated at the ceremony. |
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