National Education Policy

Solving education sector problems:

Chaminda PERERA

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena yesterday said that he would formulate National Education Policy to solve the burning problems in the Education sector.

He said it would be formulated through a Parliamentary Select Committee consisting of the representatives of all political parties in the House.

Addressing Education Ministry officials after assuming office yesterday, the Minister stressed that the viewpoints of professionals and the public are sought in the formulation of this policy.

The Minister said there are three schools in the Gampaha district where less than 10 students are studying and there are 28 schools in the district where less than 50 students are learning. He said there is a disparity in the distribution of resources to the schools. The teachers have resorted to Trade Union actions over transfers and due promotions in the education sector and they have become a discontented lot, the Minister added.

The Minister stressed that thousands of students leave for higher education in foreign countries as the country's university system fails to absorb all those who are qualified to receive university education.

About 50 percent of students who sit for the G.C.E. O\L do not qualify for the Advanced Level and question lies about the future of the students who dropped out from the G.C. E O\L examination.

Minister Gunawardena added that over 160,000 out of 240,000 A\L students become qualified for the university entrance and the country's university system can accommodate only 22,000 and the rest of the students leave the country for overseas education or become helpless due to the education system.

He stressed that the free education system requires urgent structural and qualititative changes.