Give education a chance

Saturday, 10 March 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka has always had a proud tradition of excellence in education. Even though that reputation has gotten somewhat tainted over the last few decades with problems in the free education system, there is still a strong desire among the population to educate its young.

In such a situation the fact that over 8,800 schools are without principals is a disturbing fact on several levels. On one hand, it shows the inefficiency of the Education Ministry with its red tape and on the other, the lethargy of the entire public education system.

Opposition Parliamentarians charge that the Government or in this case the Education Ministry has failed to hold exams for appointing principals at the right moment, which has led to such a large number of vacancies. The Government on the other hand says that principals are often reluctant to work in rural areas, creating the vacuum. It also insists that since most schools are run by acting principals, the effect on the education system is not as severe as the data would suggest.

While most of this sounds like excuses, there is no doubt that this is another dimension of a larger problem. The inefficiency of the Public Service Commission as well as across the board politicisation of schools has resulted in education professionals losing their independence. Add to this the Government systems’ inherent incompetence and the children emerge as losers.

Clearly the appointment of principals alone will not completely solve the problem. There is a grave need to provide on-the-job training, resources and access to new teaching methods to the teachers and principals of schools, particularly in rural areas. Basics of IT and English are still rare in most schools and despite the Government’s insistence that its IT programmes are widespread, whether or not they have an effect at ground level is doubtful.

Therefore, it is up to the teachers to lead by example and prepare the students for a world where they can earn their way. Low salaries, strikes, bad working conditions and the spread of tuition classes have served to undermine a profession that was formerly revered. Teachers themselves are partly to be blamed for this, yet it must be acknowledged that tougher competition has parents placing undue pressure on teaching professionals as well.

In this confused scenario, it is difficult to define what can be changed and how they can be implemented. Where do the changes start? With appointing new principals? Or in getting them better salaries and resources? Ideally both should be done together, but does Sri Lanka have the resources? Questions only seem to lead to more questions.

Yet one thing cannot be denied. How can the Government allocate Rs. 230 billion for the Defence Ministry three years after the war was concluded? Why is the dedication that exists for building roads not equally zealous in upgrading the education system on this country? Development is not shiny roads and harbours. It is in the opportunities that are provided to the people, particularly the children, of this country.

Giving a chance for children across the country to have access to education of good standard is certainly a path towards real development. Surely it is time the Government treads it.