News
‘COVID continues to be lame excuse for lethargic Education bureaucracy’
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Educational authorities have not yet been able to overcome the disruptions created by COVID-19, says General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) Joseph Stalin. “This has caused great stress on children who have been deprived of a meaningful end of term holiday,” he told The Island.
“We just held the GCE A/L exam that should have been held in 2022. We are holding in 2024 the GCE O/L and A/L exams that should have been held this year. When will this end? Other countries have adjusted the curricula and exams.” Stalin added that the term end holiday this time was only two days long. Children need time to relax and unwind. According to the Appropriation Bill the government had allocated only 237 billion for education, Stalin said.
“During the past few weeks, teachers, principals and university students, including medical students, have been subjected to tear gas and water cannon. The government is trying to scare people from protest marches,” Stalin said, adding that the A/L classes were empty in most popular schools as students attended private tuition classes. “The government spends a lot of money on GCE A/L students. A lot of facilities have been provided. However, most students are now in private tuition classes. This is actually a threat to education, and the Minister should do something about it. Most parents can’t afford the cost of private tuition.”
Stalin said that most popular private tutors did not work in schools. They were multimillionaires with political connections. In recent years, private tuition teachers backed politicians at the highest levels and are exerting pressure on the government to change the curricula in ways that are detrimental to children.
“Look at our education system. We pile up more and more work for the children. They are always under stress. Even the most brilliant students are struggling to keep up with the workload. We are not teaching them any skills. We are not helping them develop their analytical skills. They have no time for sports or extracurricular activities. Many children are depressed. Parents are increasingly finding it hard to fund their children’s education.”
Stalin added that successive governments had spent billions of rupees on education reforms. “The most recent education reforms on Minister Susil Premajayantha’s watch have cost the public Rs. 5 billion.”The government must talk to all stakeholders and introduce an education system that benefited everyone, Stalin said.
Latest News
Russian Embassy, Russian House, unveil plaque at Public Library in honour of 80th anniversary of victory day
The Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka and the Russian House in Colombo unveiled a plaque at the public library Colombo today (29th April) in honour of the 80th anniversary of victory day.
Victory Day is celebrated on the 9th of May, the day Nazi Germany was defeated in World War II. It is an important date in the Russian calendar and an integral part of Russian culture.
The plaque was jointly unveiled by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka Lenav Dzhagaryan and Ms Maria Popova Counsellor of the Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka and Director of the Russian House in Colombo
News
Ministerial committee appointed to review and further enhance ‘State Commercial Enterprises Management draft bill’
It has been recognized that the state enterprises should be re – structured and maintained with proper administration with the assistance of local or foreign investments without being a continuous burden to the General Treasury and the country’s economy. Therefore, it is the policy of the new government to introduce an efficient and accountable mechanism in the regard. An initial draft named “State Commercial Enterprises Management Draft Bill” has been already prepared to introduce a new legal framework required for maintaining after performing necessary restructuring and with proper management of government owned business companies. Thereon, it will be possible to totally free the state entrepreneurship establishments from political influences and appoint professionals with proficiency for its board of directors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development to grant policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for the said initial draft and appoint a special committee with the following composition to submit appropriate proposals for further enhancing after reviewing the initial draft:
• Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Labour and the Deputy Minister of Economic Development – (Chairman)
• Hon. Sunil Handunneththi Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship
• Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co – operative Development
• Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Sooriyapperuma Deputy Minister of Finance Plan Implementation
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Justice and National Integration to appoint Thilak Nandana Hettiarachchi, a special grade officer in Sri Lanka Administrative Service who served in the post of Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Buddha Shasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, to the post of Commissioner General of Official Languages with immediate effect.
Russian Embassy, Russian House, unveil plaque at Public Library in honour of 80th anniversary of victory day
Ministerial committee appointed to review and further enhance ‘State Commercial Enterprises Management draft bill’
Thilak Nandana Hettiarachchi appointed Commissioner General of Official Languages
-
News7 days agoProf. Rambukwella passes away
-
Business3 days agoPick My Pet wins Best Pet Boarding and Grooming Facilitator award
-
News3 days agoNew Lankan HC to Australia assumes duties
-
Features3 days agoKing Donald and the executive presidency
-
Business3 days agoACHE Honoured as best institute for American-standard education
-
Features7 days agoThe sea-change after Modi’s visit
-
Features5 days agoThe Truth will set us free – I
-
News3 days agoLankan ‘snow-white’ monkeys become a magnet for tourists