Grero faults decision to make OL Math pass compulsory for AL

Parliamentarian Mohan Lal Grero said that he disagreed with a decision to make a pass in Ordinary Level Mathematics necessary for students to qualify to enter the GCE Advanced Level, saying that it was not in keeping with modern educational psychology. 

He made these comments at the inauguration of the fifth phase of the Diploma Program on Early Childhood Development, which is conducted by Lyceum International School. He added that it was only 11% of students who excelled in mathematics. 

“When children have poor mathematical skills, we must be able to identify their hidden potential and show them the appropriate path to build up their future. Every child has different kinds of talent such as linguistic, logical, methodical, musical, rhythmic, kinesthetic, spatial, naturalistic, intrapersonal and interpersonal intelligences. These types of intelligence develop in different degrees in each child.  It is important to identify such skills and intelligence and help them to build up their career along those abilities,” he said. 

“There is also a necessity to transfer social and cultural values, religious practices, success stories and the experience of the current generation to the next generation. The attention of policymakers in the education sector should be drawn toward these issues.  Our education system needs to be reformed to fulfill these objectives.

Senior lecturer at the Department of Primary Education, National Institute of Education, Maharagama, Gration Kularatna, Coordinating Principal of the Lyceum International School network, Kumari Grero, former Deputy Dean of the National College of Education Polgolle, Mala De Silva, a number of other educationists and around 1,500 trainees attended the occasion.