Separate institute to cater to needs of A/L students

WADDUWA special correspondent

ADVANCED Level students in the Kalutara district will have a separate institute to continue their higher studies.

This is the first time such an institute has been opened in the district managing educational needs of the students. Similar institutes will come up in Colombo and Gampaha, said Western Province Chief Minister Reginald Cooray.

He was speaking at the opening of a school library at Delduwa Vidyalaya, Wadduwa.

He said the Government has allocated Rs. 1.1 million to construct the Library building in the school. The Library was named the "Alfred Alwis Commemorative Library."

He said the educational policies adopted by Western Provincial Council has become a model for other provinces. While stressing the importance of keeping the school environment clean and tidy, students should be moulded with high ideals.

The Chief Minister also pointed out that although there had been instances of schools running in to difficulty in the past, he was determined to help these school by amalgamating small schools with popular schools. This was achieved by mixing together the small schools with popular schools.

One hundred and ten schools were amalgamated.

Speaking further he pointed out that there was a shortage of teachers in the Western Province.

"Without considering the treasury regulations, the Education Ministry of Western Province has recruited 3950 teachers. It is the responsibility of the Principals of schools and Zonal Directors to obtain their service and limit the number of children in a school to 1500 only. If the number of students exceeds, there is no inter-communication between the teachers and the pupils," he said.

Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Deputy Minister of Posts and Telecommunication said that there should be a library for every school where students could spend the leisure time profitably reading. The naming of the library as "Alfred Alwis" was a great honour for the national service he (Alfred Alwis) rendered to the area.

Jagath Angage, Chairman of WPPC, Sumith Lal Mendis, member of WP, Sarath Kumar, Principal also spoke.