Central colleges to be upgraded

Education Minister Susil Premjayanth said steps would be taken to improve the educational standards of Central Colleges and added that their quality suffered a setback with the introduction of 'national schools' in 1988 under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

The Minister made these observations as chief guest at the Annual Prize Day 2008 held at Pushpadana Balika Vidyalaya, Kandy last Friday.

Those who passed Grade Five Scholarship Exams were admitted to Central Colleges in the past. It is wrong to conclude that children who fail to reach the cut-off marks at Grade 5 exam are weak for studies. Parents also become disappointed over this. This is a wrong notion.

These children definitely have a bright future. One failure will never obstruct success in other exams, the Minister said.

Steps will be taken to transform Ruwanpura College of Education to a College of Information Technology.

It is also our objective to provide the IT knowledge to 100,000 students in future, the Minister said.

During the 67 years of its existence, Pushpadana Vidyalaya has not posed any problem. If schools are properly managed, a healthy environment will naturally grow up there. It is highly gratifying that this school has consistently maintained and preserved its traditions over the years, the Minister said.

Principal E.W.C.K. Egodawela, officials attached to Kandy regional office, parents and several others were also present.