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Sri Lanka and Chinese approach

It’s unusual that some countries such as New Zealand and Australia still do not observe the Teachers Day Oct 6 not so popular like the Fathers’ Day, Mothers’ Day or the Valentine’s Day because there is no brisk business in giving gifts, flowers, dinners etc. As there is no such commercialism the Teachers’ Day go unnoticed.

When I saw about the Teachers’ Day celebrations in the Daily News of October 6 and as I was in China I inquired if this day is observed in China. So a friend of mine took me to two schools in the Guangzhou Province and introduced me to the principals.

More than in other countries, in China, teachers are revered both by the students and the community and by tradition they are assigned a higher status in the social strata.

Therefore, I was told that on the ‘Teachers’ Day’ the principal walks around the school giving each teacher a bunch of flowers and a card thanking him/her for the services to the students and society, while the students chant ‘Happy Teachers Day’. In the past it had been the custom to put some money into an envelope and give it with the card because in China giving money at festivals bring good luck. Students give gifts such as box of chocolates, flowers, teacups etc., to their favourite teachers. The day’s lunch for the teachers is provided by the school.

While discussing the above, I also noticed some salient features with regard to student conduct. Chinese schools appoint a monitor as a leader to each class. His role is to see that the class is ready when the teacher arrives. For example, with things such as attendance sheets, names of absentees, behaviour of students in the absence of the teacher, writing materials for the white/black-board, functioning of equipment etc. The monitor has to wait at the door for the teacher and announces his arrival asking the students to stand up and wish him. The teacher returns the wishes and asks them to sit down. This may look strange but I was told all schools follow this tradition.

As in most Asian countries, in China as well, students stand up to ask or answer a question. They use both hands to offer or accept anything from/to the teacher. But in the west, students speaking to the teacher while being seated is allowed. Then in the rural areas in Sri Lanka we still see the tradition of offering betel leaves and worshipping the teacher.

An important feature in the Chinese educational system is that it is not commercialized. For example teachers do not offer private tuition for money after school. Also there are no mushroom tutories offering tuition causing stress to both students and parents.

But whichever country, teachers command respect and are treated as supporting pillors of the nation as it is their task to raise a disciplined and a literate younger generation. From time immemorial, in every country teaching had been considered a dignified and a honourable profession. Therefore, the ‘Teachers’ Day’ recognizes the special role of the teachers and the dignity of the teaching profession.


Bank statements

I am retired mercantile executive. I maintain a number of Current Accounts in Commercial Banks. Prior to computerization I used to get my Bank statement on the 1st or the 2nd of the month on transactions carried out in the previous month. After computerization I used to receive my statements by 7th or 8th of the month. Recently I used to get my statements only on the 15th of the month and sometimes not get is at all.

On enquiring I was informed that the Banks outsource the dispatch of statements to private parties. This is an infringement of the secrecy which banks are supposed to maintain. As the statements are not received in time the customers are much inconvenienced and also will lead to frauds as they are unable to report unauthorized debits. I hope the Central Bank will look into this matter and take remedial measures.


New era of united Sri Lanka

Tracing the history of Sri Lanka, it clearly shows that major destructive movements sprang up in the years of 1971 and 1989 in the South and the North. Then, again after a lapse of about two and half decades they raised their ugly heads and ruined, disrupted, the social, economical and educational structures of Sri Lanka. Now, the same ideologists in the South, again planned in a different wavelength, an adopt a complete different strategy to make this Government uncomfortable by making false allegations, against the Lifeblood of this country, education.

To achieve their ends, this set of bankrupt politicians, who entered the Parliament is trying to gain cheap publicity through false reports and disrupt not only the education of the innocent schoolchildren but also the undergraduate population of the universities. It seems this vicious circle erupts every ten years or so.

It should be relevant to mention here that during the ‘Reign of terror’ in 1971 and 1989, these disruptive elements, were totally responsible in closing the Universities. It was after few years, that the ‘Back Log’ of the Universities was cleared. This was one of the greatest tragedies. Education is an investment in a person’s future. Education is the most powerful weapon, which you can use to change the world.

We must realize the reality.

President Rajapaksa’s Government crushed, annihilated, and totally defeated the LTTE after three decades and freed this country. The irony was on the verge of this victory, these reactionary Forces went into action again and levelled various charges against the Sri Lankan Government. They were trying to give Oxygen to LTTE cadres. They did their utmost best to create a dissension between the two Governments Sri Lanka and India respectively. But the brilliant diplomacy of the President won the day.

Our votes are very sharp and intelligent. They know which way the wind is blowing. With the able leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Government is very stable now.

This was clearly shown in the recent Provincial Council elections, where they were completely routed. The way that they are reacting now will be their death knell. In a future Parliamentary election they will learn a bitter lesson. Those who love the country will remain.

These reactionary elements through sheer frustration are now trying to create problems to the Government.

Their Modus Operandi presently is to tarnish the image of Education Ministry by making sorts of false allegations.

If you peep into the past, last year with few disgusted, frustrated Trade Union Personnel, they refrained from making the answer script of GCE A/L examination. It became a total failure, thanks to the patriotic teachers.

At present they adopted the new tactic. This time they made a big hue and cry by giving false publicity and propaganda stating that a ‘Big leak in biology paper.’ The Education Ministry and the Commissioner General of Examination totally denied these false allegations.

We must pay a growing tribute to the Education Ministry who made a bold statement in the Parliament and announced to the country the position of the Education Ministry and contradicted the false allegations.

We appeal to these gentlemen not to disrupt the good work that is done by the Government. What they should do is to help the Government. We all know the Government is presently launching a development program to uplift the lives of the innocent people of North and East. We must all stand together and must usher a new era of a United Sri Lanka. Forget all differences, join hands to develop this country.

The nation that forgets the past has no future!


Qualified age to take NIC

Make youngsters feel matured when they are 14 by lowering qualifying age to obtain NIC at 14.

Taking part in a television talk recently, Examinations Commissioner revealed that many students have got to rush at the last moment to take their National Identity Cards. It is really a sad situation when students who should be free before an examination, are frightened by the possibility of having to lose the chance of sitting the examination provided they fail to get their identity document.

The students who face this situation are those who are going to sit for the O/L Examination. It is reported that NIC is a compulsory document for them to appear for the exam. Some students have not yet reached 16 when they sit the exam.

Isn’t it better to lower the age one can get NIC to 14 instead of 16?

It will be easy for both parents and children to let children feel that the documents are ready for the children to sit the exam. It will keep their minds at rest.

This will be an advantage for not only those who are going to sit exams but also for those who take part in sports activities too. It will be advantageous for Security Personnel too to keep juvenile delinquents under check.

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