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Quality will provide the solution to all our issues. How could this
have originated? Do we find qualities when we go around our paradise
nation? Who are those responsible for the introduction of quality?
Do we have enough policies to identify qualitative leaders? At a
recently held interview for selecting principals for State schools
they were asked for their O/L English though some candidates had sat
the recruitment test in the English medium having done the degree in
the English medium. This really reminds me of the times of
Mahadenamutta.
Why issues rule the world? because we are still primitive observing
the tribal principles. The quality input alone will do nothing when
most of the heads lack the required qualities. To overcome all the
petty things, we need qualitative leaders or individuals in the
school system. Till then the issues will follow humankind till its
extinction.
Why do we create margins when our country is more aligned to the
liberal market economy? There is freedom of choice whatever an
individual intends to do. It is not acceptable or wise to highlight
our differences, if we are to march forward as a nation. Are we not
bold enough to shed the man made differences and have free policy in
Grade One admission? But I doubt how broad we are.
I have been reading all the penned materials dealing with Grade One
admissions. I thought of penning this with much regret in the name
of the future generation. This is a time that we need qualitative
leaders and managers to lead our institutions to achieve the goal of
productivity. I firmly believe in what Malaysia did with Dr.
Mahathir Mohamad as the Premier of that country.
I beg the policy makers to appoint the qualitative leaders to the
national schools and the Light House Schools to create confidence
among the parents.
The experience I gained as a teacher in the State schools for the
last 20 years is more than enough to learn about the schools and
their development processes. The world we live and see now is a
creative art of the humankind. A visionary and missionary human
being can make anything possible from this environment.
I ask any independent and unbiased authority to visit at least the
so called national schools which are run by unnatural heads. And see
whether the taxpayers funds are productively used to carry out the
State’s intentions for the betterment of the future generation. I
still remember the days at Gampola Zahira with much appreciation
where the whole nation was learning.
I would be very grateful if an independent authority visits my
school on a friendly tour to see what we have been really achieving.
It would be an opportunity to generalise the progress that we have
now is positive or negative.
What I say here is ‘Develop the schools in the island to solve the
Grade One admission’ which is a created issue.
M. KHALEEL
Thalgaspitiya
I have read with interest different views from readers on the
subject of ‘Raceless Burghers and racism’ and I am quite puzzled why
this subject is being discussed at all.
The fact is that the Burghers of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) are of
European and Asian mix and are a coloured race. Whether their skins
are white, black, fair, dark or their eyes black or blue is
immaterial because they have always identified themselves as
Ceylonese (Sri Lankans and have had a most marvellous relationship
with all the fellow citizens) from the other communities.
This is a fact, and if self-acclaimed academics have held that Sri
Lankan Burghers, who are of European descent have no race, then they
have only shown up their ignorance and perhaps superficial academia.
I have tried to understand what J.B. Muller has tried to convey in
his recent articles in the press but have been unsuccessful because
he touches on so many matters, but I do not think Muller holds a
contrary view, like some Burgher scholars of yesteryear.
Finally I must say I have to agree with the views held by the others
like late Harold Speldewinde and Linda Von Schagen who have clearly
identified the Burghers as a minority race that has contributed so
much to their Motherland.
T. J. KELAART
Wattala
Having served a leading bank for 35 long years, I now live in
retirement thanks to a monthly pension.
I shall also be grateful for a little kindness if it is shown by the
younger generation, who are now enjoying good health. All I expect
from my younger successors in the prestigious bank is some
consideration for a senior citizen who may from time to time bother
them with enquiries relating to pension details, hospital bills,
reimbursements etc.
On most occasions, as I grow older, the youthful bank officials are
rude to me perhaps because I am now only a liability to the
institution, which I worked for during all my youthful years. Do
they know that the young bank employees of today will also be in my
position one day after reaching retirement age?
SIVA COOMARASAMY
Bambalapitiya
I refer to the letter written by Eng. Colwin Zoysa of Colombo 8
regarding the above subject. I agree in toto with him. However, the
Government in power should absorb them for the following reason.
It is not their fault that they have been educated in the Sinhala
medium which is only useful for the Government Sector. These Sinhala
educated graduates do not fit into the private sector who conduct
their business in the English language, other than retail shops,
groceries, garages, eating houses, labour category etc. where
English is not needed. This is the fault of the then Government who
did away with English.
It has only created a mess in the education system. Sinhala and
Tamil students are now segregated whereas prior to this Sinhala Only
era they were united, mixed in the same school. The Sinhala educated
graduates will only fit in the Government sector who conducts their
operation in Sinhala. They are misfits to the private sector.
Even now, it is not too late to introduce English. A compulsory
subject in the curriculum, so that the future generations would
benefit and the unemployment problem would also be eased. Even at
present, some GCE O/Level persons are employed in the private sector
to fill their vacancies and they are a miserable failure due to
their poor knowledge of English.
A WELL-WISHER
It was very interesting to read your short description of hologram
communication. You have very ably explained it for non-scientists to
understand what it is. What struck me is psychic images in the
Buddha Dhamma.
The Buddha in many instances got into communication with certain
Bikkhus in this manner appearing before them when they were far away
from Him. Even in the story of Angulimala, the Buddha had this image
interposed between Angulimala and his mother.
Can you relate hologram communication to this psychic images in
Dhamma?
CHARLES PERERA |
