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Education in poor state: minister
By Chandani Kirinde
Education Minister Karunasena Kodituwakku painted a dismal picture of the education system of the country and said it seemed to suffer from many ills.

He identified the inequitable distribution of resources both human and material in the school system, the poor infrastructure in some problem areas and said at the present rate it would take many more years for education to be a 'basic' right for students in the less privileged districts.

The minister's remarks were made in Parliament on Friday during the committee stage debate on his Ministry. He said the percentage of those passing in English at the GCE Ordinary Level Exam has declined from 40 per cent in 1994 to 21 per cent in 1997 and was fluctuating at this figure in 2001.

He said that maintaining motivation levels and the commitment of teachers has also become a grave issue affecting both students. "About 20 per cent of teachers are on leave on any given day. This affects teaching in schools and their management," he said.

Dr.Kodituwakku also said loss of confidence by parents in the government school system and universities has led to a mushrooming of tuition houses and the norm of having 35 to 40 students in a class has proved to be a myth.

He referred to the growth of international schools in Colombo and in a few other towns preparing children both for local and foreign examinations. He said the government would not allow the teaching profession to be an easy way out at the expense of the younger generation and added that employment seekers will no longer be given non-existent jobs. He also said several steps will be taken in the future to motivate teachers.

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