NCPA alarmed at goings - on at some International Schools

Rasika SOMARATHNA

* Some schools even allow smoking

* Call for Education Ministry intervention

The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) yesterday called for the immediate intervention of the Education Ministry to improve the overall standards of some International Schools in the country. NCPA chairperson Anoma Dissanayake said her department received a large number of complaints related to incidents of child abuse and poor overall standards at some of these schools.

Dissanayake said the lack of regulation and standards concerning teacher recruitment and a child -friendly environment within some of these schools were issues for high concern. She called for a special mechanism under the guidance of the Education Ministry to regulate and monitor activities of international schools.

"We received a large number of complaints relating to abuse, negligence and poor teaching standards. In some instances, we received reports about some schools even allowing smoking within their premise," Dissanayake said.

Highlighting some of the complaints she received, Dissanayake said ethical standards and the propagation of cultural and traditional values in some of these schools too were very poor.

She said she requested in writing to the Education Ministry to intervene in the matter and added that the NCPA was prepared to lend assistance.

The NCPA chairperson also charged that her written request to a number of international schools to send resource persons to attend training sessions on child protection conducted by the NCPA was not adhered to.

She said it is important to form child protection committees within international schools with the involvement of stakeholders.

An emotional Dissanayake said some people think they can earn easy money at the expense of the child. For this purpose they use three modes : setting up of an orphanage, child care centre and an international school.

"A majority of these are set up with genuine intent-which is the well being of the child. But there are unscrupulous elements as well who see an opportunity to earn money at the expense of the child. We have to deal with these malicious elements effectively to protect the child," she said. Dissanayake was of the opinion that laws too should be amended to ensure that quality education prevails at international schools.

She said current regulations which bring international schools under the Company's Act should be amended. "These schools should come under the state education mechanism," she added.

Dissanayake said under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the government has done more than any other to protect children and uplift education.

"Thus, I see this as a most opportune moment to find effective and lasting solutions to certain existing anomalies pertaining to the education of the child.

One such anomaly is the above conditions at international schools, which have been brought to my notice.

It is high time we address these issues efficiently and effectively," Dissanayake said.