'Education system to change'

Kathya de Silva

A Cabinet paper making it compulsory for schoolchildren to take up at least one sport will be drafted jointly by the Education Ministry and the Sports Ministry in the near future.

With this, extra-curricular talents of schoolchildren will be promoted instead of relying an exam-centric approach.

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said so participating as chief guest at the opening of the modernised Visakha Vidyalaya playground and sports meet on Thursday.

He added that from this year onwards, a Technical education stream will be introduced to Advanced Level students apart from the existing Science, Mathematics, Commerce and Arts streams.

"Courses will be designed for this new stream by the Vocational Training Ministry and the Higher Education Ministry. Through this, students passing out will be equipped with knowledge and skills to enter the job market," the minister said.

He also said the Education Ministry plans to pay more attention to five subject areas,such as, Information Technology; Science, "Mathematics and Commerce; English and other languages; sport and aesthetics. Syllabuses, teacher's handbooks and school books will be changed accordingly," he said, adding that through this there will be a change in the system of education in the country starting from this year.

"Instead of a examination -centric approach, the education system will be transformed into a knowledge- centric system in keeping with the pledge in the Mahinda Chinthanaya," he said.

He said he hopes that the school continue to excel in studies as seen in the Advanced Level and Ordinary Level examinations.

"I trust with the modernization of the playground, students will bring glory to the country in international events," the minister said.

Visakha Vidyalaya now shines brightly as one of the leading girls' schools in the country after about a century of its opening, he added.

Hambantota Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa, Polonnaruwa Parliamentarian Roshan Ranasinghe and Sri Lanka Cricket Captain Angelo Mathews participated as honoured guests. The Visakha sports meet was Angelo Mathew's first participation in a public event as the Sri Lanka Cricket Captain.

Education Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Jayarathne, Education Ministry Sports Director B A Abeyrathne, Sports Director General Ranjani Jayakody, Western Province Education Director P N Ilapperuma, Zonal Education Director Jayantha Nanayakkara and other Education Ministry officials, Deputy Principals, past Principals and deputy Principals, teachers, parents and students participated.