'Govt has given priority to North-East education'

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

Schools in the Northern and Eastern Provinces have become a challenge to leading schools in the other provinces, with the end of the war which prevailed for over three decades, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said.

The government has implemented numerous development programmes in the Northern and Eastern provinces and given priority to the education sector in war affected areas,he said.

Minister Gunawardena was addressing the teacher-student felicitation ceremony-2012 held at the Ananda College Auditorium, yesterday. The Anandians '90 group organized the ceremony for the 11th time and felicitated the College teachers who taught the O/L classes and students who secured good results at the G.C.E.(O/L) exam last year. One hundred and eighty students have shown colours at the O/L examination in 2011. Of them 90 students who received nine distinctions were awarded gold medals and 80 were awarded silver medals at the ceremony. Around 50 teachers were felicitated.

Two students, Windula Alwis and Akila Udara who received best results at the G.C.E.O/L examination in 2011 received special awards.

The Minister said: "Paying gratitude is an important quality seen among Sri Lankans and it plays a big role in the morality of the students and teachers.

"Teachers serving in the northern and eastern provinces are appreciated by students and parents. Felicitating the talented teachers and students island wide is important for the development of the country's education sector", the Minister said.

"Principals and teachers do not receive big incentives as other state sector employees.

They only get a self-satisfaction. Teachers can be introduced as second parents. Their main objective is to create a good future generation and they sacrifice much to achieve this end.", State Trading Corporation chairman, an Old Anandian, Pradeep Gunawardena said.

Rammala Dhammarakkhitha Thera, Ananda College Principal L. M.D .Dharmasena, Old Boys' Association Chairman Tilak Karunaratne, Old Anandians' '90 group chairman Sumadha Gomes, Secretary Anusha Dinal, students, teachers and parents participated in the ceremony.