Success of schools depend on ‘quality principals’

I read Dr. Asoka Weerakkody’s letter in today’s The Island (6th Sept) with much pleasure. Positive news is rare and compliments about State Schools even rarer. I am aware that Yasodhara Vidyalaya has a good reputation and I am also aware that many of such schools are excellently run. Devi Ballika and Gotami Vidyalaya and many others are good examples.

BUT the problem is that the success of such schools frequently depends almost entirely on the quality of the Principal, who runs it. And ‘quality’ Principals are becoming the ‘Luck of the draw’ so to speak,

The Dept. of Education (I am told) has a system of A, B and C Grade Principals. Schools like Visakha Vidyalaya will ALWAYS get an A Grade Principal and I would imagine that Yasodara, Gotami and Devi Balika Vidyalayas would be handled likewise. All three schools mentioned are girl’s schools and I presume are easier to discipline than boys.

But, I must ask, ‘Has Dr. Weerakkody ever visited such a school in a far way small town, let alone a village?” I have. The experience was not one of undiluted joy. Here is what I found.

1. Firstly, the noise factor is appalling. How teaching can take place I cannot imagine. How can any teacher be adequately heard by students when there is no discipline as regards to class behaviour in other classrooms, even if her own is controlled?

2. It was a co-ed school so girls and boys were kept strictly apart. They sat on different sides of the room. So normal healthy mixing was not on the cards.

3. If a girl needed to go to the toilet she was sent along with a friend to accompany her. Why was suspicion of possible wrong doing so ingrained in the Staff?

4. The school grounds were clean but not the toilets.

5. The children were neat.

6. Teacher absenteeism on that day was high and obviously no substitution had been arranged for the classes minus a teacher in that subject.

7. The Principal was not impressive. C. Grade perhaps?

8. The English teacher was equally unimpressive. I shall not go into details.

9. The Principal complained loudly about the fact he never had enough money to effect repairs or replace old equipment.

10. In contrast to Dr. Weerakkody’s comments on his visit to Yasodhara Vidyalaya, this was not a school where the ‘Head Headed’ or where any good feeling was inculcated.

So there are schools and schools. When anyone attacks International Schools, for the wrong reason, I take great offence. I somehow feel that Dr. Weerakkody’s letter was written after my defence against a former unfairly critical attack on them.

I do not say International Schools have no drawbacks but their plus points far outweigh the minuses. And if a debate is necessary let it be on sensible and prejudice free grounds.

Goolbai Gunasekara

goolbai@gmail.com