Friday 13th October, 2023

A model parliamentary session held by a group of schoolchildren from Ratnapura, at the Presidential Secretariat, on Tuesday, has received much publicity. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, addressing the students, asked them to suggest solutions to their problems. The government was willing to consider them, he added.

Tuesday’s event has come in for criticism on social media. Some critics have called it an utter waste of time and energy, and argued that children should be taught to spend their time productively without engaging in fruitless pursuits, but such criticism, in our book, is misplaced. Parliament is an integral part of democracy, and theoretically model parliaments or simulated legislative assemblies are intended to promote civic education, help students or the youth gain a deeper understanding of how parliamentary process works and provide them with opportunities to develop skills in public speaking, debating and critical thinking.

Negative comments about the mock parliament emanate from the people’s antipathy towards the present-day legislators and the deterioration of the parliamentary process. The blame for this unfortunate situation should be apportioned to the public as well; it is they who elect their representatives. In a democracy, the people are said to get the governments they deserve, and the same may be said of parliaments as well.

However, the general consensus is that the current legislature needs to be given a radical shake-up. This task requires a Herculean effort like the one that went into the cleaning of the Augean stables. Going by what has been reported of Tuesday’s model parliamentary session, there is a lot that our MPs could and should learn from schoolchildren. In fact, on seeing the appalling conduct of some of the legislators, one wonders whether they missed early childhood education, which provides a solid base for learning abilities and cognitive and social development.

Schoolchildren who go on excursions to the zoo and Parliament during stormy sessions might wonder which is which, and, most of all, why it is the harmless, dumb creatures that are kept in cages, and not the aggressive ones that go berserk at the drop of a hat. There have been instances where schoolchildren in the public gallery of Parliament let out screams on seeing rowdy scenes below, with the MPs trading blows and raw filth liberally. It is a matter for relief that children are not emulating those legislators.

It is said that there is no way one can isolate oneself from politics unless one isolates oneself from society. But one important lesson that should be imparted to children in school is that one does not necessarily have to engage in active politics to be able to make a significant contribution to the wellbeing of one’s country. There are many other ways of serving the public and achieving success in life. But when children see professors and other such learned persons in politics kowtowing to semi-literate ministers, they are likely to get the wrong message that it is prudent to drop out of school as early as possible, engage in politics and become ministers.

There is a pressing need for children to be educated on civic and political rights of the public and inspired to cherish justice, fair play, unity in diversity and equality so that the current practice of deifying politicians, especially the parasitic ones with dictatorial traits, will end, and future generations will have the courage to stand up for themselves. For this goal to be achieved, undue social recognition for politicians has to be diminished. Hence, care should be taken to prevent model parliaments from creating an impression in young minds that politicians are a cut above others. Children must be taught and encouraged to think differently and critically and question the retrogressive policies, traditions and beliefs.

Teachers ought to set an example to their students by refraining from tugging their forelocks before politicians. They must overcome the absurd mindset that no school function is complete without the presence of politicians. There are many brilliant Sri Lankans of all ages who have excelled in their chosen fields and made this country proud. It is they who deserve pride of place. Tharushi Karunarathne’s stellar performance at the recently-concluded Asian Games proved an enormous uplift for a despondent nation mired in deep crisis.

The 18-year-old lass, a proud member of the Raramuri squad of the Walala Rathnayake Central College, as it were, was poetry in motion, and ‘even the ranks of Tuscany could scarce forbear to cheer’ when she clinched the gold medal in the women’s 800m. But if not for her coach, Susantha Fernando, who spotted her talent and turned her into a formidable half-miler who moves like the breeze, Tharushi would have ended up being another Lucy of Lanka in a far-flung hamlet––‘a violet by a mossy stone/Half-hidden from the eye!’ Susantha has trained dozens of athletes, and the international medals he has helped the country win, all these years, number more than three scores. It is such selfless, unsung heroes/heroines who should be invited to grace ceremonies, as chief guests, especially in schools. That, we believe, is the way to foster meritocracy for the benefit of children.