Co-ops in seats of learning - Minister

Irangika RANGE

Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando said co-operative societies will be set up in all schools and universities across the country for the benefit of students, teachers and lecturers.

Opening the second day of the "Isuru Saviya" Co-operative National Festival in Maligapitiya grounds in Kurunegala yesterday, the minister said the co-operatives would provide a variety of services to its members. Among them are, sale of books, stationery, IT services and sports goods required for education and extra curricular activities.

The students will have a first-hand experience of running a co-operative on sound economic and co-operative principles with the advice and assistance of teachers and lecturers. Among the major objectives of the programme are promoting the economic interests of its members, encouraging thrift, co-operation, self-help and mutual assistance among its members, promoting and popularizing buying and selling of educational materials, consumer goods and services on a co-operative basis, developing entrepreneurial skills of members through exposure to various types of co-operative activities and inculcating self-discipline among members, self-reliance, responsibility and accountability and to provide opportunities for total character development.

School heads have also been instructed to organize seminars and conferences at school level to educate students on the importance of the co-operative movement and its benefits to society.

They have also been instructed to commence co-operative projects.

"It is necessary to increase youth's contribution to the co-operative movement's development in Sri Lanka. That is why the government has planned to enroll 300,000 new members to the Co-operative Movement this year," he added.