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Teachers and principals suggest revisit of Grade Six reforms
View(s):By Kasun Warakapitiya
Teacher and principal unions, as well as educators, have called on the government to reconsider whether the Grade 6 modules are to be used or an entirely new module should be introduced.
This comes after the unions held a meeting with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Tuesday.
Union representatives agreed reforms are imperative, but that what had been introduced is not what they desired. Reforms were hurriedly carried out without a proper direction.
The Grade Six English module caused controversy as it incorrectly published an inappropriate adult (a gay chat) website to improve language skills. This module was suspended while Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewe filed a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department. Police media spokesman F.U. Wootler told the Sunday Times a comprehensive investigation is being done.
During the cabinet press briefing on Tuesday, it was mentioned that the Grade Six modules would not be implemented this year.
The Education Ministry issued a notice on Wednesday saying that the introduction of the Grade Six module from 2027 would be postponed, but that the module proposed for Grade One would start on January 21.
Children being used at a pro-reform protest in front of the Education Ministry. Pic by Indika Handuwala
The notice also explained that the timetable for Grade Six to 13 students also changed to eight periods, and a period should be 40 minutes.
According to the notice, Grade Six students should be taught the previous syllabus. Previous year’s Grade Six textbooks should be used for students in 2026.
The notice also explained that the concept paper, curriculum framework and all modules prepared so far in relation to the proposed new education reforms would be made available to the public for an open and broad public debate.
Education Ministry sources claimed that modules were rushed. According to them, when the syllabus is subjected to change or reforms are done, they are done by experts and professionals as well as with the consultation of administrative officers, principals, and teachers.
There were many shortcomings in the modules, and one of them was pointed out in parliament by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, who said the Asoka Chakra had been used instead of the Dharma Chakra in the Buddhism module.
But this was disputed and clarified by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuiriya as the emblem approved by the Ministry of Buddhist Affairs.
Former legislator Wimal Weerawansa led the call for the resignation of the prime minister and staged a protest at the Education Ministry. When the Grade Six module implementation was postponed, he stopped his protest.
Teacher unions said although reforms were necessary, they had been rushed.
Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin said the module system was rushed. The module was only focusing on one term and had not mentioned how the student would be prepared for the upcoming year.
The modules have not outlined a vision on the trajectory of school education and how it would link with university education.
Mr Stalin said the proposed reforms should be reviewed and discussed with all stakeholders. Professionals, experts, and educationists, as well as principals and teachers, could give their ideas. Infrastructure, too, should be addressed.
“The National Institute of Education (NIE) as well as the Education Publications Department should take responsibility for the complications and issues, including the blunder in the Grade Six English module,” he said.
Principal and teacher unions said school timetables for grades six to 13 had changed more than four times, and now the 2006 timetable for eight subjects has been adopted.
Apart from that, as the Grade Six modules were held back for one year, the Grade Six students would have to get the textbooks used by the previous year’s students, while the government has to once more print books, which fall short of the requirement.
Unions said those responsible should be held accountable and charged the Rs 80m expenditure.
The General Secretary of the National Association of Principals, Parakrama Weerasinghe, said the module should be reviewed.
Shortcomings in the modules were a result of not having a formal procedure.
“When bringing reforms or changing the syllabus, first, principals and teachers should be informed and their views heard. That was not done.”
Mr Weerasinghe said principals are not against reforms and call for practical education. Reforms had been hurried, as they were undertaken with Asian Development Bank funding.
Some unions were carrying out awareness programmes, meeting with experts and political parties so that they could take a stand to direct the government to carry out proper reforms.
Meanwhile, Educational Professionals Association President Ven Ulapane Sumanagala Thera said the Grade Six modules had many shortcomings besides the homosexual website link.
The print quality was poor. The Thera said the paper is too thin and transparent.
“We are even sceptical whether the quality of the paper is what was tendered for the purpose.’’
He explained that the modules had many web links and QR codes; therefore, the ones who created the modules should be responsible for the content of the web links and QR codes.
Ven. Sumangala Thera said education reforms should be reviewed. Changes should be done on the advice of competent experts who suggest practical solutions for issues.
He accused the government of arrogance. “They attempted a trial by using all students, but it is dangerous to try such a stunt.’’
A senior official at NIE said that the head of the department had resigned. An additional secretary of the Education Ministry who is in charge of administration, Wasantha Gunaratne, is the acting assistant director general.
Mr Gunaratne was unavailable to comment despite repeated attempts to reach him.
Education Ministry Secretary Kaluwewe told the Sunday Times that investigations on the Grade Six English module are continuing. He has not received any reports on the progress of the investigations.
| Book distribution delays continue Teachers say that the distribution of most textbooks, including ones for English and IT from grades seven to 11, is yet to be completed. More than two-thirds of students have not got the books. Teacher and principal unions explained that the delay is normal and distribution had been overlooked. Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin told the Sunday Times that as the government gave more weight to introducing modules, the distribution of textbooks was overlooked. However, when the Grade Six education reform implementation was held back, the distribution of modules also stopped. As a result, the students lost both modules and textbooks. Educational Professionals Association President Ven. Ulapane Sumanagala Thera said Colombo schools felt the shortage of textbooks, while students in remote areas did not receive textbooks. Education administration has weakened to the point where the distribution of books was not done on time. New books are partially distributed to students at the end of the previous semester, and the remainder would be distributed during the semester, he said. National Association of Principals General Secretary Parakarama Weerasinghe said the textbook distribution delay and shortage of textbooks have persisted. | |
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