Navin Dissanayake : Tour of Duty for the Nation

Passing exams alone, isn’t enough-minister at Nuwara Eliya

Wednesday, 01 June 2011 00:27

By Shelton Hettiarachchi

Minister Dissanayake opened the computer centre

The Minister of State Management Reforms, Navin Dissanayake expressed concern about the lethargic attitude of  children in the Nuwara Eliya District who were backward in education when compared to their counterparts in Colombo. The minister emphasised that teachers and parents should focus attention on this unsatisfactory state of affairs and take remedial measures. Addressing a gathering at the opening ceremony of the science laboratory, the computer centre and the main access road to the Nuwara Eliya Madduma Bandara Vidyalaya,  the minister went on to say that the dedication of  teachers was an integral part of any programme to uplift the standard of education of children.
He also said: “The culture in the Nuwara Eliya District is entirely different from that of Colombo. Children in the Nuwara Eliya area are backward in education. Therefore it is the duty of teachers and parents to join hands and launch an effective plan to change this situation. It was disappointing that when a student of a leading school in Nuwara Eliya was taken to task by the principal for using a cellular phone valued at more than Rs.30,000, his father phoned the principal and rebuked her. Parents must allow teachers to discipline their students without any interference. When I was a student of the Colombo Royal College, a teacher severely beat me, but my father did not find fault with him for it. The teachers can perceive more about the behavioral pattern of the children rather than their parents. Passing public examinations alone would not succeed in character building which is an integral part of education. Children should be inculcated with good behaviour patterns from their formative years. Teachers and the parents have a major role to play in this endeavour.”

The Chief Incumbent of the Mahagastota Sari Sumanarama Ven.Agalawatte Damminda Thera delivered an Anushasana.
Provincial Council Member Wimali Karunaratne, Zonal Director of Education Ananda Premasiri, Principal of  Madduma Bandara Vidyalya B M Harangala and a former princial of the school, M D Mitrapala also addressed the gathering.