‘Key changes needed to strengthen free education’

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

The education sector has to be subjected to certain key changes so as to strengthen and broaden the benefits of the free education system introduced by late CWW Kannangara, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said yesterday.

Minister Gunawardena

Minister Gunawardena was addressing a felicitation ceremony of former educationalists who rendered invaluable service to the development and betterment of the education system.

The felicitation ceremony was organised by the Education Administrative Service retired officials under the theme “Felicitation of Service Excellence in Education” at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute.

Under this programme 12 educationists who did yeoman service in the 1980s to the education sector were honoured with the Service Excellence in Education Awards.

Those are, late BJP Alles, Dr. Premadasa Udagama, EL Wijemanna, KD Ariyadasa, Dr Thilokasundari Kariyawasam, George Mendis, DA Perera, Kamala J Peiris, Bogoda Premaratne, Arthur Wedamulla, Dr Uvais Ahamed, Dr EJ Satgunarajah.

Addressing the gathering the minister said that education is not entirely free now due to the influences of open economy. In other words students have to spend money on extra education since education has become more competitive.

Meantime, the minister pointed out that without qualifying the Advanced Levels anyone who are financially sound can be a graduate. Financial ability is the only qualification for obtaining such degrees.

Therefore, a mechanism has to be introduced to strengthen the free education introduced by the late CWW Kannangara. Moreover, education system has to be transformed so as to create a patriotic citizen who loves the country and the mankind. “That person should love another person and the country. Besides, that person should obey the law and order while protecting human qualities and ethics” Gunawardena said.

Minister Gunawardena noted that the education environment also assisted greatly to create a valuable person those days. Unlike now, a few decades ago, various subjects such as “Woodwork”, “Metalwork”, Agriculture, Home-science, Motor mechanism and aesthetic subjects were taught in schools.

Those subjects added a value addition to students and moreover human qualities than forcing students to enter the rat race.