Daily News Editorial

A remarkable achievement

08 October 2016

The results of the Year 5 Scholarship Examination have been released and one fact is quite obvious – all the top performers are from the outstations and some are from very remote schools. This is a very good sign that our education system is finally addressing some of the inherent inequalities.

Sithija Niran Samarawickrama of Urugamuwa Methodist Kanista Vidyalaya, Matara secured the island’s first place obtaining 196 marks at the Grade Five Scholarship Examination held on August 21. Ruwanya Methmini Gunasekara of Aswedduma Subharathi Kanista Vidyalaya, Kuliyapitiya and Kokulathasan Abhisigan of Rambekulam Government Maha Vidyalaya, Vavuniya, have obtained 195 marks each to secure the second place. According to the Examinations Department, nine students had secured the third place obtaining 194 marks each, all of whom live outside Colombo.

The purpose of the Scholarship Examination is to identify bright students from the outstation and difficult areas and provide them with popular or better schools in Colombo and main cities such as Kandy, Galle and Kurunegala. But this concept itself illustrates what is wrong with our education system. If all schools are equally good, there is no need for parents and students to scramble for the so-called best schools in Colombo and Kandy. But judging by the mad scramble for grade one admissions and the malpractices associated with it, it is clear that some schools are perceived to be superior.

Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has gone on record as saying that the national Unity Government is keen to resolve this problem. It has already started a project called “Nearest School is the Best School” whereby all schools islandwide would be brought on par with the best schools in Colombo and Kandy. If this project can be implemented successfully, there will be no need for parents to resort to every trick in the book to get their children admitted to the best schools. In fact, if this project goes ahead successfully, there will be no need for the Scholarship Examination itself as it will obviate the necessity of going to a “best” school. The only problem that will arise is that students of schools which have only primary classes should still be given another school – but that can easily be solved through logistical arrangements. There are many other benefits too – students will not have to travel long distances or seek board and lodging at a City school. They will also be able to wake up a little later especially if the nearest school is within walking distance.

Sri Lanka has one of the best education indices in the whole world, developed countries included, thanks to the free education system continued by all post-independence Governments. The country has nearly 10,000 schools and nearly 250,000 teachers. Compared to other South Asian countries, there is also no discrimination against girls in terms of education – in fact, girls are known to outperform the boys in many subjects. Nevertheless, our education system has many shortcomings and is badly in need of reform.

The education system is structured in such a way that students have to face several “hurdle” examinations such as the Scholarship, G.C.E. Ordinary Level and G.C.E. Advanced Level. At each stage, only a certain percentage of students reach the next stage. Finally, only around 20,000 students gain admission to universities out of the nearly 300,000 who appear for the G.C.E A/L examination. The students who fail the examination or do not qualify for the State universities face a myriad of problems.

In this context, we commend plans by the Government to do away with the “hurdle” status of certain examinations. For example, even if a student does not do well in a so-called “compulsory” subject such as mathematics at the O/Ls, he or she will still be able to reach the A/Ls. For this purpose, several vocational and practical subjects will be introduced to the curriculum. This will enable these students to pursue higher education opportunities or careers in those chosen vocations rather than being left out from the education system. Today, a knowledge economy is a must for any country and we cannot afford lag behind.

This will also address the current mismatch between the education system and the job market. The Sunday newspapers have hundreds of advertisements for various job vacancies which are often repeated week after week because there are no takers. Many of those who leave the schools or universities with theoretical knowledge are not qualified enough to apply for these real-world jobs. The new education curricula and proposals will help rectify this anomaly.

The Government’s plans to upgrade and expand the teaching profession as disclosed at the recent World Teachers Day ceremony, are also praiseworthy. As Minister Kariyawasam pointed out, the teaching profession is the only profession that can produce practitioners of other professions, from doctors to lawyers. Their needs and concerns must be met for they have the onerous responsibility of producing a disciplined, useful next generation of citizens. Our future depends on the education of our children and we must set it right.