Govt.’s sex education mess up 

Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa this week lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) following the discovery of the link to an inappropriate website appearing in a module related to Grade 6 English language prepared by the National Institute of Education.

The text with the new module had already been printed when the error was discovered following which its distribution was immediately suspended. The Government on its part has gone to the CID to see if the web address which opens up an adult website was introduced to the module deliberately or was a mistake. The CID inquiry may reveal more details but till then the Government has to deal with the fallout of this embarrassing mistake.

Educational reforms have already drawn wide attention with the sex education related syllabus under fire by the Buddhist and Catholic clergy.  Both members of the Buddhist and Catholic clergy have voiced their concerns over the proposed changes.

Following the discovery of the appropriate web link on the textbook, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, who is also the Minister of Education and Higher Education has been under fire from many quarters while there have been some calling for her resignation alleging that the education reforms initiated by her are exposing children to unsuitable online material. Archbishop of Colombo, Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has been one of the strongest critics of the Government’s education reforms, saying they undermine parental rights and threaten Sri Lanka’s cultural and religious foundation. He has repeatedly spoken out on the nature of some of the reforms which he said exposes young children to inappropriate material.

He has alleged that through education reforms, certain international agencies that fund such programs are aiming to erode the family structures. The Maha Nayakas of the Asgiriya and Malwatte Chapters wrote to the President a few months ago voicing opposition to such changes which they say are not suitable for the country.

Education reforms have been a sticking point for many politicians and many who have held the post of Minister for Education have tried to introduce reforms that they personally feel will be better suited for the country. Some of the new reforms such as the introduction of IT and Artificial Intelligence are much needed for the students of today to cope with a fast changing world. But the issue of early sex education and how to go about it is a lot more sensitive and worrying for many parents who have had little or no say over the matter.

Prime Minister Amarasuriya has been more of an activist than a politician and even after a few years in Parliament, she continues to grapple with her dual role. She champions issues such as women’s and gender issues, childcare, youth affairs etc. She has been an academic too and largely involved in the  issues close to the heart but education reforms does not seem to be her forte.

Both Amarasuriya and her Deputy Madura Seneviratne have, through their various statements, made it clear that they are hell bent on implementing the reforms from next week, come hell or high water. But given the latest embarrassment and the storm it is kicking up, they should put the reforms on hold and hold more consultations, particularly with parents whose children are  going to be exposed to inappropriate material, without trying to push through other agendas. Amarasuriya and her Deputy’s intentions may be good as they want to prepare the students for the fast changing world but as they say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. What the PM is trying to push through may soon become the biggest liability for the Government and force President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to replace his Minister of Education with someone who has a better grasp of the local sensitivities. One thing that many in the NPP should realise is that hiding behind the CID isn’t going to save them for long and in this case, both the Secretary of the Education Ministry and the Minister should take responsibility for this mess.