Restructure education system - PM

H M Abeysinghe Kuliyapitiya Group Correspondent

The immediate re-structuring of the education system is a must today. Children are today given only knowledge under school education. This is insufficient. They should be directed to contribute for the national development through school education, Prime Minister D M Jayaratne said.

He was speaking at the opening of the De Abhimani-Wayamba Udanaya (National Pride-Wayamba Re-awakening) agricultural, industrial and educational exhibition held at the Pannala National School last week. The Premier said the exhibition depicts the national pride.

"Schoolchildren could gain knowledge from the exhibition to make Sri Lanka Asia's marvel," he said. Environment Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said the children find it difficult to face future challenges only through the school education.

"They should be given a vocational training after leaving school. If they get such a training they will not be stranded and will not need to go after politicians seeking jobs.

"Institutions that give such training have stalls at this exhibition. Training is given free of charge. Several institutions pay workers while they are trained," he said.

"Our target is to make Sri Lanka the marvel of Asia. This exhibition depicts that we would be able to achieve that target before long," the Minister said.