Sri Lanka boasts about the free education system in the country and high levels of literacy rates. No doubt they are great achievements. It is not only free access to education institutions including Universities that have contributed towards achievement of high levels in the Human Development Index, free text books, free uniforms, free mid-day meal for children in primary school, IT facilities and recreation facilities in schools, catch up classes are some of the initiatives to promote free quality education that we should appreciate.
Yet, does this education system ensure equal access to education for all children?
All schools don’t provide the same facilities. Schools are categorized based on facilities provided by schools. In most cases the economically disadvantaged students find it difficult to access National schools or well resourced schools, as a result of not living in close proximity to school or not being able to influence the authorities.
There is a wide gap in the facilities in a Type 1 school and Type 3 school. As a result there is a great difference in the quality of education.
The National Schools concept was introduced in 1987 to promote better facilities for brighter Students. This concept itself is discriminatory as it limits the access to resources of children who does not qualify as ‘bright’ according to the criteria set by education authorities.
Preference of teachers to work in urban, well resourced schools has also caused teacher shortages in remote, rural schools limiting children’s access to education.
Existing shortage of qualified English teachers in rural schools results in children from these schools finding it difficult to master English. Knowledge of English is a key ingredient for success in higher education and employment.
A national policy on introduction of information technology to the school curriculum has been implemented where IT is taught as a subject and IT is used as a tool of learning in the classrooms. IT education is a need of the hour but many rural schools still doesn’t have access to even a single computer, electricity or IT teacher. Providing IT education only to students in privileged schools widens the information gap.
It is necessary to look into the possibilities of reducing the resource gap in the education system and to promote equal access to education for all children.
Reference:
Fulbright. Education System in Sri Lanka. US-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission
http://www.fulbrightsrilanka.com/?page_id=609 (retrieved on 31st January 2010)
Ministry of Human Resource Development, Education. Education for All: National Action Plan
http://planipolis.iiep.unesco.org/upload/Sri%20Lanka/Sri%20Lanka%20EFA%20NAP.pdf (retrieved on 13th February 2010)
Education system in Sri Lanka does not have equal access to education and it lacks the capacity to get the ultimate human potential. Following are some of the reasons
ReplyDelete1.Enterprenuership skills should be thought (leadership,encouraging inventions, business mindset). Instead studying for a job there will be student who will be of service to the country by creating jobs for others.
2. Encouraging trade profession through education (cabinet making, plumbing, wood work,) some students might be a lot more talented in practical work than academic work. These student should be given an opportunity to learn the skills they want to pursue a career in rather than OL's or AL's (the salary gap between the blue collar and white collar jobs will also play a major role)
3. Keeping up to date with new technology- IT facilities should be provided to all the schools.
4.English - its vital to put more efforts in teaching English (English being the international language there are a lot of academic resources, job potentials & business opportunities that are accessible by learning English)
5.New university system. To day only a minority of student can get into university in Sri Lanka and as a result lot of student go abroad for studies. The govt should introduce a system where more students can access university by paying the govt for its services (taking a percentage off the salary with tax. the salary should be above the set minimum wage before the govt deduct money for uni fees).