Government ensured quality education to all - President

Chaminda PERERA

The government has worked with unprecedented enthusiasm to ensure quality education for each and every child in the country. This government has been more interested than any other government to uplift the country's educational standards, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

Speaking at the presentation of over 2,800 teacher appointments to diploma holders of National Colleges of Education at Temple Trees yesterday, the President said parents also show greater enthusiasm to ensure quality education for their offspring.

He said some parents are in the process of preparing documents to secure good schools for their children, before they are born.

President Rajapaksa said the number of students who enroll for university education have increased each year.

He said a number of new subjects have been introduced to the school curriculum to cater to present day needs.

"We have started new universities such as the University of Technology and the Ocean University of Sri Lanka," the President said.

President Rajapaksa said a number of steps have been taken to uplift the country's education sector.

He said Mahindodaya laboratories are being built in many schools.

"New streams are being introduced to the education system," he said. President Rajapaksa said the government is taking steps to arrest the teacher shortage. "Over 53,000 graduates were recruited to the teacher service," he said.

The President while reminding of his recent visit to Weli Oya, stressed that the standard of education in the country's rural areas was increasing. He said students in rural areas have shown better results at the GCE Ordinary Level, Advanced Level and Year 05 scholarship examinations.

"They have started performing well at these examinations. Their success is due to the dedication and commitment of the parents and the teachers," the President said. He opined that the achievements of students at examinations will become fruitless, if they are morally declined.

"Teachers should show the students the correct path," he said. President Rajapaksa said teachers have more responsibility than other government officials in the country.

"They have been entrusted with the responsibility of moulding the younger generation," he said. He said the society expects well disciplined students from teachers. Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena, Educational Services Minister Duminda Dissanayake, Governors of Sabaragamuwa and Northern provinces WJM Lokubandara and G A Chandrasiri and Education Ministry Monitoring MP Mohan Lal Grero were also present.