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Escape from
a nightmare called school admissions Year one admissions
today are nothing short of a nightmare. Understandably
parents want to give their children the best of education and more
often than not, they go to great lengths to gain admittance to the
big schools rather than send their children to less prestigious
schools in their neighbourhood. For in their opinion these small
schools offer far less facilities than the well established schools. In recent times,
the clamour for national schools has reached unprecedented heights.
With schools like Royal College receiving 4500 applications for
400 vacancies and Visakha Vidyalaya receiving 3200 applications
for 175 vacancies for Year One the numbers of those rejected is
huge. The Education
Ministry whilst recognising the need to drastically revamp the system
of admission also feels that the principals and teachers of these
so-called small schools are partly to blame for the big school rush.
Press Officer
of the Education Ministry Mr. W.M.D. Wanninayake recalled a surprise
visit to schools in Anuradhapura where they found the Kurandankulam
Vidyalaya in the interior of Anuradhapura closed by 11.30 a.m. Not
recognising the Minister some of the teachers who had been at the
gate had stated that the Grama Sevaka had asked them to close the
school as the number of students had dwindled from 400 to 95 with
most opting not to attend classes. In the course
of conversation, with teachers lamenting that with the closure of
the school, they would be out of jobs, the Minister, spotting the
daughter of one of the teachers had asked which school she attended.
Swarnapali Balika (a well established school) came the reply. The Minister
was of the view that if teachers themselves have no confidence that
their school would give their own children a good education how
then could they expect other parents to send their children there.
It is often
the lack of interest shown by the Principal and the teachers that
results in inefficient schools leading parents to seek other better
alternatives for their children. It is up to the Principal and staff
to gain the confidence of parents. They must take the initiative
to develop the school and attract students to it, the Minister had
stated throwing a challenge to principals. The Habaraduwa
Kanishta Vidyalaya is one such school that has taken up this challenge.
From humble beginnings, this small school is now a thriving primary
school, which holds its own among the betterestablished schools
in Galle. The school,
which offers a number of facilities, had developed to its present
position solely through the untiring efforts of its Principal and
staff who had harnessed the support of philanthropists and wealthy
businessmen of the area to aid its financial status. The Education
Ministry whilst identifying schools in the Colombo, Kurunegala,
Kandy, Galle districts as those being in demand have now launched
several projects to elevate chosen schools. Under the Primary
Model School project 50 schools from different districts have been
identified to be upgraded with all facilities provided to them.
The Agramathya Vidyalaya in Pannipitiya, which was reopened last
Thursday, is one such school. As a second
project, a further 54 schools of the Madya Maha Vidyalayas established
by C.W.W Kannangara, have been identified to be elevated to the
ranks of a National School. Apart from
addressing the shortage of good schools, the Ministry has taken
several steps to reduce the discrepancies with regard to admissions
to these schools. The Appeals
Board identified as a vice that promotes much of the discrepancies
often with parties exercising much influence to enter students (who
have been rejected the first time) has been abolished. The board was
scrapped because it was seen as a time consuming exercise.The first
four months of an academic year were spent hearing appeals with
officials of the Education Ministry constituting part of these Appeal
Boards. Says Mr. Wanninayake, a lot of influence was used to admit
children prompting the appeals list to be referred to as the Amathyansaye
laisthuwa (ministry list). With officials
engaged in hearing appeals there were no personnel to man operations
at the Ministry and conduct its activities and it has been identified
that the vehicles used, the money paid for this exercise was a waste
of resources. Nevertheless
parents who feel that they have got a raw deal are not without recourse.
For with the abolishing of the Appeals Board, the Ministry has set
up an Appeals Commission headed by former Examinations Board Chief
A.M.R.B. Amarakoon. Among other powers vested in him, he will also
look into admission appeals. In a bid to
avoid all forms of influence and to keep year one admissions strictly
according to the circular, Objections Boards have been set up at
school level, to hear the objections put forward by parents who
feel they have been wrongfully rejected. The difference
between the Objections Board and the Appeals Board is that the former
is like an open court where both parties, the applicant parents
and child as well as the parents and child against whom the allegation
of wrongful admission has been lodged are heard in each other's
presence. The board will
consist of the Principal, Vice Principal and four senior most teachers
of the school and if there is any merit to the application then
the rejected child is admitted to school. Although the Principal
will exercise considerable power under this scheme he or she will
be held liable for any discrepancy or abuse of power, adds Mr. Wanninayake.
If the parents
are still not satisfied with the decision of the Objections Board,
then appeals can be referred to the Director, National Schools,
Director Provincial Schools or Secretary, Ministry of Education.
The School Development Board Bill is a new reform that is in the
pipeline. Although the proposed legislation in effect will deal
with the development of the school the task of administering year
one admissions will also come within its ambit. The board will
comprise the Principal, three senior teachers, three parents, three
representatives, the Old Boys/Girls Association and three school
prefects. The board will
be a statutory body governed by the rules and regulations as set
out in the Education Ministry Circular. Their powers will flow from
the Minister and they can also be dismissed or subject to a disciplinary
inquiry by the Minister. Further they will be open to fundamental
rights applications in case of any acts or omissions on their part
with regard to admission. The Bill, which
has already been drafted is to be presented to the Cabinet for approval
in January next year and upon approval will be presented to Parliament
in March. All these reforms will put into effect in 2003. The shortcomings which we are bound to come across will be rectified as these schemes are implemented, says Mr. Wanninayake who adds with confidence that there will come a time when the National Schools will have to go after students to enter them. |
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Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
Ltd. All rights reserved. |
long
queues for applications, the gruelling interviews for both parent
and child and then the endless sleepless nights of waiting, wondering
whether that fateful letter will read 'accepted' or 'rejected'.
