Education policy towards professional classification needed - GMOA

COLOMBO: The Government should consider the formulating an education policy directed towards professional classification as proposed by the GMOA if it was to fulfil its obligation of safeguarding the future of children passing the G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination annually.

This was stated by Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) in a press release, yesterday.

The release said last years G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination results were released last week. The attention drawn by the media towards children who excelled in the examination was praiseworthy. But we should question as to whether adequate steps have been taken to secure the future of these talented children.

Although 100,000 out of a total of 250,000 children who sat this examination had obtained necessary qualifications to enter universities, only about 17,000 will finally gain admission. When these 17,000 children graduated, only a fraction of them will gain employment.

It is the country's misfortune that only the medical graduates are ensured employment.

This posed the question whether the country's education policies were formulated to provide employment to 800 children out of several lakhs leaving out the balance.

This was a national crime for which the Government could not shirk its responsibility.

The Association recommended to the Government the introduction of an education policy based on professional classification to solve this problem.

Although this concept was included in the last budget, following representations made by the GMOA to the President, steps had not been taken to implement it so far, the release said.