Minister tells students to learn National languages

Rafik Jalaldeen

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan children must learn national languages to communicate their thoughts and ideas, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said.

Speaking at the inauguration of the second national language (Sinhala/Tamil) curriculum development workshop at the BMICH on Thursday, the Minister thanked the German Technical Co-operation for providing free training to teachers to teach second language.

"It is essential for our children to learn national languages to express their ideas and thoughts. Sri Lanka is a country with a multi-ethnic society," Premajayantha said. "Children are our future and they can develop the country when different societies understand each other," he added.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has taken steps to launch teaching second language programmes under the Mahinda Chintanaya, the Minister said.

He said arrangements will be made to teach Sinhala to Tamils and vice versa. Constitutional Affairs and National Integration Minister Dew Gunasekera said there are nearly 800,000 public servants in Sri Lanka.

"Among them, many lack the second language knowledge. As a result, the public suffer when they approach public servants to get their work done," Gunasekera said.

"Those with official language skills must be recruited as public servants.

The recruiting system for public service will be changed. From the top, middle and low level, public servants should have the second language skill," the Minister added. Education Policy on Second National Language Secretary, Ministry of Education Ariyaratna Hewage said the launching of this programme was a landmark event.

"Without language skills children cannot learn other subjects. Sinhala speaking students learning Tamil and vice versa will be integrated in the curriculum. This system will be introduced from grade 6 to 10. A student will then have the choice to choose the second language for the GCE O/L," Hewage said.

The National Institute of Education with the co-operation of the GTZ and the Education Ministry is in the process of developing curriculum material and training teachers for the new courses, GTZ Program coordinator, Dr. Ulf Metzger said.