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The problem of exclusive schools

Why cling to the divisive anachronism of denominational schools within the public school system? This question which was raised by President Kumaratunga while presiding at the annual prize-giving of Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo on Wednesday, is a most timely one.

We hope it would exercise the minds of all relevant sections - politicians, educationists, school administrators, the policy planning elite, the clergy of all religions and the public inclusive of younger citizens and schoolchildren.

That the public school system has drifted dangerously to a system of denominational schools or a situation where some major public schools are associated exclusively with a single religion and culture, is plain to see.

That this has happened over the years is proof that successive governments since independence have failed to create an opinion climate which fosters harmonious and peaceful co-existence among communities within our major State institutions - in this case schools.

This abject failure to crate a multicultural framework within public institutions is a vital dimension in Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict. It shouldn't come as a surprise if communal friction is a fact of life in this country, because there is no multicultural atmosphere within the nurseries of the future citizens of our land - our schools.

Ideally, students of all communities should be given an opportunity to pursue their learning in any of our State schools, for, the State is secular in orientation and is committed to the principle of equality.

Besides, the State funds the school system. How come, then, some schools are identified with a specific religion, culture and even community?

We are thankful to the President for raising this issue which needs to be debated in full, now that the State is committed to resolving the ethnic conflict by political means and is conscious of its duty to create religious and ethnic harmony in Sri Lanka.

However, the President is also on record that there would be "no compulsion by law" to enforce her vision of having multiethnic and mutlireligious schools. This position reflects sensitivity to our international human rights commitments, particularly those relating to "freedom of conscience and religion".

Nevertheless, there is no getting away from the fact that the public school system which is funded by the State, stands committed to opening its doors to students of all communities and religions.

We urge the President to do everything within her authority to change the character of our public school system to one which is accommodative of all religions and communities.

If we are to evolve into a nation of a multicultural complexion, the current compartmentalisation of State schools into denominational ones, needs to be changed. This would be a stepping stone to fusing all communities into one nation.

A miniature marvel

Just two years from now, that capsule you are about to swallow may not be a run-of-the-mill medication. It will be a camera, drugs container and body fluids extractor all-in-one.

Advances in miniaturisation has brought camera capsules into the realm of the possible. They are now tantalisingly close to commercial production. At least two Japanese companies - Olympus and RF Systems - have developed almost identical capsule cameras.

It is the medical fraternity's dream come true - a disposable device the size of a fingertip that can be easily swallowed to scan the body from the inside.

The capsule endoscope would navigate through the body without batteries to take images and directly administer drugs. Just 2.6 centimetres long and 1.1 centimetres in diameter, the capsule could extract body fluid for analysis and do ultrasound scanning from inside the body for clearer images.

The capsules, powered by a rotating magnetic field, would free patients from the painful ordeal of swallowing an endoscope with fibre-optic cables. The capsule can be controlled from outside. It will not be too expensive either, at 50 dollars.

The device will benefit both doctors and patients in many ways. Patients will no longer have to endure swallowing fibre-optic endoscopes.

The camera capsules will also be less costly. Doctors will have precise control over what they want to see inside a patient's body. As a bonus, drugs can be administered and body fluids, essential for tests, can be extracted at the same time. This will lead to faster diagnosis and recovery.

The devices will open further possibilities such as remote monitoring of patients via telephone and the Internet. All the patient has to do is swallow the drugs-laden pill with a camera and the doctor will, in theory, be able to see crystal-clear images of the body's inner workings even from the other side of the world. Technologies that can make this happen already exist.

As nanotechnology progresses, we will be able to see even smaller drug/camera pills and 'robots' that can mend internal injuries. They will also be invaluable during and after surgery. This is not science fiction, we are well on our way there.

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