Teachers could end tuition craze -Premier

Teaching is a noble profession. Teachers in the past worked with real dedication and held lessons for their students even after school free of charge. It is questionable whether the same degree of dedication is evident in present day teachers. If teachers perform their tasks with dedication private tuition classes will become superfluous, said Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka.

The Prime Minister said so at a meeting held at the Horana Don Pedrick Vidyalaya on Sunday to mark the presentation of a computer unit to the school.

The Prime Minister said gratitude was a major feature of Buddhism according to which we have fashioned our lives. In the past teachers were treated like gods but that situation had changed today due to an erosion of moral values. We ought to uplift moral values and foster a sense of ourness and patriotism.

The Prime Minister said the country was poised to follow an accelerated development path after April 8. A strong Parliament was needed for this endeavour. The people have now got an opportunity to ensure a strong Parliament by giving a two-third majority to the UPFA at the forthcoming election.

While ensuring a prosperous nation by developing all sectors the government also hoped to change the electoral system to create a parliament which will be more answerable to the people. If rules and regulations were an impediment for development they should be reformed to suit the changing needs of the country.

The Prime Minister said the presentation of the computer unit would be considered the first step towards improving facilities in rural schools undertaken by the government. Education should not be restricted to technology alone. English education too should be nurtured among the students to arm them towards meeting future challenges in life. The school also observed the teachers and students day on Sunday. A group of 29 students who had a good attendance record last year received special medals while a group of teachers who had taken less than 10 days leave for the whole year received special awards.

Australian Migration Company Chairman Hemantha Punchihewa gifted the computers, Horana Zonal Education Officer K.K.P.M. Jayatilleke, Principal Pathmasiri Perera and several others also spoke.