Letters to the Editor

Our education system gives nothing but shocks
While what happened to the results of the local Advanced Level (A/L) chemistry paper has shocked the students, the explanations given for the lapses gave even bigger shocks to the teachers. After all the hard work done over the years, the Education Department turns round and complains that the computer used was over six years old and had a faulty sensor. Why was this not observed years ago? How irresponsible can senior officers of a department get where the future of students is concerned?

Now it is doubtful whether the results of all A/L and Ordinary Level (O/L) examinations have been properly processed. This is the only visible tip of the iceberg of callousness and indifference. Those of us who are teachers have no clue as to what is going to come next from the department. What more shocks are in store for parents and teachers?

For more than a generation, the problem of teaching methodology, where especially English and mathematics were concerned, drew everyone's attention due to the poor performance of students in these two examinations. When the former President took over the Ministry of Higher Education, two signals were sent out. One was that higher education was suffering due to a variety of reasons, and the other was that a determined attempt would be made at the highest possible level to correct it and cut through bureaucratic bungling, apathy and lack of foresight.

We are familiar with the "headline making" pronouncements of the deficiencies of our secondary education and promises that they would be corrected in due course. But instead of a diminishing of these problems, more have arisen, and we still do not have worthwhile results to show where the quality of students or the quality of their performance is concerned.

Then there was the "world shaking" introduction of the system of 'student-centered education'. One has to visit any school in the areas which were selected for experimentation to see that little or nothing has been achieved so far. If at all, only some upper classes of a few International Schools have introduced a modicum of the necessary changes. But the results of these changes have to be realistically evaluated. Students are no more self-reliant, more intelligent or more imaginative than before.

What is obvious is that the mechanism of private tuition has completely and effectively swamped orthodox school teaching. The established 'big' schools are the only ones which have been performing consistently well. In the other schools, if there is an improvement in student performances it can be attributed only to 'private tuition'. Students almost from grade 1 flock to tuition classes to enable them to achieve competitive standards especially in mathematics, English and science subjects.

The real educational thrust in recent years comes from the dedicated teachers of 'private tuition' classes and not from the ministry nor from the government teachers who seldom cover the syllabus or motivate their children.
There is hardly a student in the Colombo, Kandy or Galle districts who does not attend private classes. It is still the most devastating indictment of our state educational system which, year after year, has failed in its duty towards poor parents of the country.

SriLankan flying low
Last month I had to fly from Colombo to Mumbai to attend an international cardiology conference using SriLankan Airlines (S.L.A), as I always preferred to fly our national carrier which was known for its efficient and courteous service.
But to my disappointment, the air hostesses appeared arrogant and they did not have the usual Sri Lankan smile they used to have those days.

The food served was of poor quality. I think SriLankan can learn a lot from airlines such as Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways. It is high time the authorities took special interest to prevent the deterioration of our national carrier as the majority of Sri Lankans will always like to fly on SriLankan Airlines.

Let elders start the peace jaw-jaw
The older generation believed that even a criminal was safe in a place of worship. Even the long arm of the law would not reach inside. That was how a place of worship was respected then. But now this has become another grandmother's tale.

A harmless elder, inside a church at prayer at midnight mass on Christmas eve along with family members was killed. Sometime back people who were at prayers in the mosque were shot dead. While these fanatics, lunatics or perverted minds indulge in these wanton killings, the vast majority of others in this country are watching cricket.

The majority community is unable to close ranks to reach this elusive peace. The minority community is haphazardly killing each other in a show of power. Both sides fail to realise that, "United, Sri Lanka stands, Divided, Sri Lanka falls."
Remember those far-sighted prophetic words of a lawyer, politician, the late Colvin R. de Silva when the Official Language Act 33 of 1956 was debated in an empty public gallery and passed amidst mounting tension in the country: "One language two nations, two languages one nation".

Realisation dawned only after 32 years with the passing of the 16th Amendment to the Constitution on December 17, 1988 making Sinhala and Tamil official languages and English a link language.

Today we are in the threshold of another horrible situation, the danger of another war looming high. Act wisely now if we are to achieve a united Sri Lanka. Divided Sri Lanka will face a disaster worse than the tsunami.

Party politics must be put aside. Sober people must get together and make a sincere, genuine and united effort. Enlist the active support of senior citizens who have grown with age and are still growing by helping others to grow, as the saying goes. Close the communication gap. Bring a thousand of the pensioners from the North and East. Meet us pensioners in the other parts. Let the 'jaw jaw' begin this way, while the politicians keep haggling on the venue of peace talks.

A question of faith in a Constitutional muddle
Article 14(1)(e) of the Constitution state that every citizen is entitled to the freedom, either by himself or in association with others, and either in public or in private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practise and teaching.

It appears to the writer that Article 14(1)(e) gives a citizen the freedom to manifest one's religion or belief in four ways viz. (1) worship (2) observance (3) practice and (4) teaching.

A Supreme Court special determination 19/2003 citing the Supreme Court determination 2/2001 states, "In Sri Lanka the Constitution does not guarantee a fundamental right to propagate religion as in Article 25(1) of the Indian Constitution. What is guaranteed here to every citizen is the fundamental right by Article 14(1)(e) to manifest, worship, observe, practise that person's religion or teaching." This reading of the Article 14(1)(e) excludes teaching as a way of a citizen manifesting one's religion or belief.

The reading of Article 14(1)(e) for the SC determination 2/2001 and basing it for the determination 19/2003, results in a fundamental question of whether Article 14(1)(e) of the Sri Lankan Constitution does not allow a citizen to manifest his/her religion or belief in teaching, or whether it allows a citizen to manifest his/her religion or belief in teaching.

The question is very fundamental as almost every person/citizen has beliefs or a religion. Hopefully this matter could be clarified?

Offer rebates on utility bills
It is regretted that a rebate on electricity and telephone bills has not yet been made although the Water Supply and Drainage Board has made a four percent rebate on every advance payment.

This is a great boon to both the consumer and the board as it encourages the consumer to settle bills promptly.

It is high time that both the Ceylon Electricity Board (including LECO) and the Sri Lanka Telecom allowed a similar rebate (5%-10%) on electricity and telephone bills as bills on these two items are higher than water bills. I hope the high officials of the CEB and Telecom will take notice of this appeal and allow some rebates on these two bills.

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