(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has stated that the main objective of the government is to formulate and implement a plan that will cover the entire learning process from pre-school to higher education so that future generations do not get lost in education.
The President emphasizes that special attention should be paid on early childhood development and primary education considering them as the most important stage in a child’s life.
The President made this observation at a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday afternoon (21) on the future plans of the State Ministry of Women and Child Development, Pre-School and Primary Education, School Infrastructure and Education Services.
Until now, there has been no proper focus or regulation on pre-school education. Therefore, a formal program has been prepared with the assistance of experts in children’s education, the President said.
“It is the responsibility of parents and teachers to set the stage for a free education and to constantly evaluate the child. Attention has been paid to pay an allowance to teachers in pre-schools who do not charge fees. Another goal is to regulate and train them in a way that does not inconvenience them. We have also planned to provide pre-school children with a locally made kit for pre-skill development. The primary responsibility of officials and authorities is to identify and properly manage the resources of all schools in the country,” the President said.
The responsible officers of the national and provincial schools should not confine themselves to the offices but should go to the schools, identify the problems and give solutions, he said.
The President pointed out the need for a system where officers go to school and solve teacher problems instead of teachers coming to education offices.
Basil Rajapaksa, Head of the Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival, expressed concern over the hardships faced by teachers who go to zonal offices for various professional needs and said that officials should assist in resolving the problems of teachers.
Mr. Basil Rajapaksa emphasized the need to meet the drinking water and sanitation requirements of all schools in a short period of time.
The Government has also focused on setting up special education units at the district level to develop the skills of children with disabilities in order to socialize them, Basil Rajapaksa said. He added that financial contributions should be made to relieve families with such children from the psychological and economic breakdown.
Considering the need for a National Committee on Women for the benefit of oppressed and abused women, the need to pass the necessary legislation through an Act of Parliament was discussed at today’s meeting.
Attention was also focused on expediting trials of abused children and establishing closed court facilities to allow the child to testify in a way that does not scar the child.
The President said an education system that will make a transformation from training a child to set the desk and the chair properly when leaving the classroom to a citizen who loves the country and society with a change of attitude will be set up.
Prof. Ven. Medagoda Abhayatissa Thero, Minister of education Prof. GL Peiris State Minister Piyal Nishantha, Secretary to the President PB Jayasundera, Secretaries to the Cabinet and State Ministries and officials of line agencies were present at the discussion.
