Thousand National Schools to be developed islandwide

Waruna PADMASIRI

In a bid to ensure a quality education to all students, the government is to develop 1,000 National Schools with modern facilities, while 5000 primary schools will also be developed, said Education Minister Bandula Gunewardene at the launch of Sithmina, a weekly educational magazine for students sitting the GCE O/Level examination, published by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.

The government plans to develop 1000 National Schools with a minimum of three schools in each of the Divisional Secretariat Divisions this year. Minister said that the programme will provide a solution to many of the problems in the education system.

Gunewardene said that the National Schools will have classes from grade 6-13 and will be mixed. Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim students will be studying in the same school as in the past. All modern facilities that can be found in city schools, such as, computer labs, language labs, science labs and sports facilities will be provided to these schools. Students can enter the schools by excelling at the grade 5 scholarship examination and by performing well at the entrance examination.

The government plans to upgrade 5000 primary schools islandwide parallel to the 1,000 National Schools programme. Minister said that this overhaul will solve many of the problems currently faced in our education system, including the competition to enter grade one and the bribing and corruption that goes along with it.

Reminiscing on the 54 Madya Maha Vidyalayas that were built under the concept of C W W Kannangara, the Father of Free Education, Minister Gunewardene said that these schools gave birth to bright, well-rounded individuals who excelled in every sphere of life.

Personalities like the Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake, Minister S B Dissanayeke, Artiste Jaylath Manoratna, businessman Manilal Fernando are the results of the Central Colleges. The proposed programme is an expansion of the work done by late C W W Kannangara.

The minister said that out of the 300,000 students who sit for the A-level examination, only 22,000 qualify to enter university. What will happen to the other 278,000, he asked.

The minister said that if the parents have money, the children will not face problems. If they can show money in a bank account, indicate the deposit, get the seal from the visa office, those children will have a bright future. Under this system a child who studies Arts at the A-L can become an engineer, a child who studies Commerce can become a doctor.

'Those who don't have money, are lost. There are people who march on the streets to stop them from even getting an opportunity to pursue a higher education.

He said that "Even the child from the village, the son of the teacher, the daughter of the farmer, mechanic and labourer's child will have an opportunity in the education system in the future."

'When a student fails O/L at 15/17 years of age, finishes A-L at 18/19 years, they are left without a choice, without a job, without anything to do. They go to politicians to find a job.

'If that doesn't work, they get frustrated. They are angry with their teachers, their parents, and the whole world. They become depressed and angry. Tens of thousands of our youth died in the last 30 years because they felt they had no future.

"The education system has to change," the minister said. 'Education is not just about Maths and Science, but about creating well rounded individuals who are humane and become a valuable treasure to the country.

Minister Gunewardene said that every person who tries to reform the education system is stoned. He reminded the audience that Anagarika Dharmapala who built 112 schools in the country was forced to live out the last days of his life in India, while the Father of Free Education, C W W Kannangara too was not treated well towards the end of his life. Minister said that he is not deterred by the stones hurled at him.

Minister thanked the chairman of Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd for producing a journal such as 'Sithmina' and doing an honourable service for the education sector of the country.

Meanwhile, ANCL Chairman Bandula Padmakumara said: "We are all children of free education." Along with the government, he said that he is dedicated to seeing the free education system prosper in this country.

The ANCL Chairman said that as a great teacher who taught hundreds of thousands of students with love and dedication, minister Gunewardene is the right person to take the education system of this country forward.

Mr. Padmakumara said that ANCL will do its part to contribute to the free education of this country and pointed to the 'Vidunena' magazine which is a valuable resource for students sitting the year 5 scholarship exam and now the 'Sithmina' magazine.

'Lake House is the 'Maha Gedara' of the print media in this country'. As the Chairman of ANCL he said that he is proud to be in the forefront of the development and progress in the country.

He said that Lake House is modernising and progressing in every way. Two new printing machines are already in operation with another one set to arrive in March. He said that modernisation will enable ANCL to contribute even more towards the development of the country.