Dilemma of the rural university student on learning English
One of the familiar words that roll down the aisles of school and university students in Sri Lanka is the word ‘kadda’ (earlier Kadduwa). It is an acronym used by the students to name ‘English’ which is widely used in Sri Lanka (in trade and commerce and now the web) where the national languages are Sinhala and Tamil. The reason it was so named was because the language is hard to learn by most students from rural areas.
During a panel discussion hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in launching its third National Human Development Report 2014 (NHDR) at the BMICH last Tuesday, this issue was brought to the concern of the youth of Sri Lanka. It was noted that it’s in the hands of the youth to educate the students and refrain from calling it so.
Speaking to the Business Times on the sidelines of the event, UNDP Sri Lanka Country Director, Razina Bilgrami said, “We should not underestimate the potential of the youth.” Youth are a distinct group that shouldn’t think of themselves as part of a problem and think of a solution to the problem, she noted.
UNDP Sri Lanka Policy Specialist, Sonali Dayaratne told the Business Times that current institutions and structures provide opportunities to youth. There needs to be more formalised mechanisms, not only to provide youth the space to participate, but also involve them in the decision making processes, she emphasised.
Minister of Youth Affairs and Skills Development Dullas Alahapperuma, expressing his thoughts during the launch, said, “Findings and recommendations of UNDP’s NHDR could be used as key policy tools as it provides a new platform for policy development and reforms in youth development which would serve as a strong advocacy tool for promoting youth empowerment and human development in Sri Lanka.”
Speaking at the event, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Subinay Nandy noted that the NHDR 2014 will serve as a platform for strengthening collaboration between the government and non-governmental actors and importantly youth themselves towards revitalising and prioritising the implementation of key existing policies that benefit youth and the country at large. The report also looks to inform the formulation of strategies and a national action plan to give effect to the Youth Policy 2014. “We hope that Sri Lankan youth will take ownership of the report, and realise their full potential as catalytic agents of change,” he stressed.
Deputy Secretary to the Treasury and Co-Chair of NHDR National Steering and Advisory Committee Dr. Suren Batagoda, said, “UNDP’s NHDR identifies in its analysis and reiterates the need to feature young voices in national agendas to address the challenges Sri Lankan youth face. Development agendas including the post-2015 development agenda needs the participation of youth at all levels for its success. Working with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development and the UNDP, we remain committed to involve young voices at all levels of development planning.”