Minister appreciates APLA decision

Disna Mudalige

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena appreciated the consensus reached by the All Island Professional Lecturers' Association (APLA) not to conduct private tuition classes for school children from grade 1-4 and 6-9 on Poya Days and Sunday mornings. The Minister was addressing the third Annual General Meeting of APLA held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute yesterday.

This decision was announced by former APLA President Upul Shantha Sannasgala on the occasion. The Minister noted that proper discipline, standards and a control are needed for private tuition classes at present. He said that this could not be achieved by imposing bans. He noted that the syllabi should not be over weighted and the students should be examined according to their syllabus in a way that about 60 percent can pass. This will automatically narrow private tuition and thereby self discipline will naturally rule in this field, he added.

He also revealed that some books and subject content taught in international schools are reported unsuitable to the age of those grades.

"At present we have limited control over them. We are now making a National Education Policy and we hope to complete it within the next year. A special Consultative Committee is also appointed in Parliament in this regard. With the conclusion of this, a proper policy that does not change with Governments and will be established in the country," he said.

He also requested all professional lecturers to maintain their respect in the field and to dedicate themselves towards establishing a well educated, self disciplined future generation who value our culture and traditions.

New office bearers of the Association were also appointed during the meeting. Prof Ashley Halpe, K Ariyasinghe, K Ediriweera, Premadasa Nanayakkara and Prof. Abeyratna Bandara were awarded Life Time Achievement Awards during the occasion in appreciation of their service to the nation.