Move to prevent closure of rural schools

Primary classes to run separately:

Horana special corr.

A decision was taken to detach primary classes upto Grade Five from Maha Vidyalayas, Madya Maha Vidyalayas and National Schools in the Horana Education zone to minimise the closure of rural schools in the area, said Western Provincial Council member and Horana SLFP Chief organizer Vidura Wickramanayaka.

He was addressing a meeting held at the Horana Medhankara MMV to mark the opening of a new science laboratory costing Rs. 3.2 million, set up under the secondary education modernisation project II of the Western Province.

Wickramanayaka said: “Our biggest problem is the difficulties faced by parents in admitting their children to schools. Children receive education to grow up as disciplined citizens. But unfortunately from the very first stage of education children are taught to utter falsehoods since parents have to prove that they reside in a prescribed area in proximity to the school for their children to qualify for admission.”

Wickramanayaka said most parents aspire to admit their children to the best schools and they cannot be categorised as best schools and bad schools because all schools impart the same education.

Passing examinations is vital but it is not the sole criterion to become a disciplined citizen. It is questionable as to whether the present education system helped to churn out disciplined citizens.

This was one reason why they decided to remove classes upto grade 5 from the MVs, MMVs and National schools in Horana to lay more emphasis on rural schools and prevent their closure.

Wickramanayaka said poor parents preferred rural schools because they could not afford van hire and other transport costs to send their children to distant schools.

Moreover children are waded with a heavy daily routine from about 4 a.m. when they have to attend distant schools and this was a burden which hindered the physical and mental growth of children.

Wickramanayaka said his father Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka set up 32 schools within a month and the principal school among them was Medhankara MMV and he would take steps to fulfil all its shortcomings soon.

Principal K. A. Senaratne and several others also spoke.