Ministry targets 100pc literacy rate by 2011
Dharma Sri Abeyratne
COLOMBO: Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said moves are
under way to achieve a 100 per cent literacy rate among Sri Lankans by
2011.
He said 50 years ago, the country's literacy rate stood at 50 per
cent, while now it is 91.5 per cent. "We have now launched programmes
whereby Sri Lanka will have a 100 per cent literacy rate by 2011."
He said the Education Ministry's Informal Unit has taken many steps
to achieve this target among which is getting children who are not
schooling into the school system and also imparting an informal
education to elders who are illiterate.
This was revealed by the Minister at a seminar titled "Literacy
Uplift Programme for Students and Elders" at the Ministry Auditorium.
A decision was also taken to issue a Student Record Book to every
student from next year by the Education Ministry to replace the single
sheet term end assessment report being issued in some schools.
"The Education Ministry will issue a well prepared printed record
book for every student from 2008 since it is reported that some students
had received typing sheets as their report books from schools," the
Minister said. Senior DIG Sirisena Herath pointed out that 1,000
children of school going age are jailed every year.
Among them are 100 girls. It has been revealed that 70 per cent of
people involved in crimes are illiterate.
"When a child is directed to school it is not only educate the child
but also to indirectly bring down the crime rate," Herath said.
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Five and 14: school going age for children
COLOMBO: The Education Ministry has set the school-going age
for children at between five and 14 years.
Parents and guardians are legally obliged to ensure children in the
above age group attend school. |