Ceylon Today Editorial

There are no permanent records

08 October 2016

Sports culture definitely plays an important part in the improvement of any game mostly to do with the team sports. Although many are of the opinion that there has to be a set number of players for a sport to be called a team sport, track and field faces the situation both ways.

Track and field, mostly evolve around individual performance, even when a team is required to perform relay races. It is very notable, particularly, in the event spoken of as it is a very technical event that has to have so much coordination involved to win. If that is not noticeable as being team work, such precision rarely comes into play in team games that involve many players together.

Yes, precision comes into play; it's the part where technicality comes into play; there it is the individual that has to take care of matters mostly in team games. In cricket batting, bowling and fielding involves technicality but it is not something to be performed by a team.

The passing game in soccer, of course, needs a lot of team work to have goal scoring and involves technicality, too, but it does not involve the 11 players together. The goal scoring chances can get altered when opponents get the smell of plans while playing.

The above explanations are necessary to get this story aligned in a proper manner to prove it takes a team to take responsibility and take it to the level needed to perform well and for the upkeep of a sport. These teams should especially comprise of seniors with experience.

Since, the topic began with track and field it was done so for the specific reason to focus upon this subject. In our pursuit getting to the bottom of improving standards of track and field especially, and other sports as well, let us focus upon a recent happening. You may remember the National Sports Festival that concluded recently in Jaffna.

For reasons unknown to us and may be known to some, there was a question that came up of importance to national level during the event. That was firstly, to do with having that event for the first time in Jaffna. Then, it was the responsibility of the organizers to have shown it was being treated as an important event. They should have had a better show than, what it all came to be at the end.

All this was due to the people responsible not getting the thought into their heads. They never guessed how they were going to carry out such an important national event minus some key and precise equipment, like the electronic timing device.

The authorities concerned knew very well it was an event where records broken especially world records, other international games could be ratified by the IOC. But, it was so only if the timing and measuring was properly carried out. Why the authorities did not think of it should be the concern of the Sports Minister, the NOC and the athletes.

The available timing equipment malfunctioned. Arrangements were ahead to have them repaired. Even an order was ready for the parts to be imported according to information we have. Why it was not done according to plans is not clear.

None of the former athletes and those now having responsible duties to perform on behalf of the Sports Minister complained about it at the beginning. Some were heading the games parade with the National Flag in hand, but did not notice the lack of equipment for electronic timing. Their only interest began when discovering that someone's record had been shattered. Then they began their cry over the matter. Some said that it cannot be recognized as the record because of the hand timing. This was due to their thinking that the old record they were still holding should be intact. Others joining in began proving their ignorance trying to be smart, uttering nonsense about how the wind conditions would interfere in middle distant running. But, none was interested at the start to be vigilant of being at an important national track and field event that had no electronic timing device in operation.

This incident clearly shows the disinterest of the old brigade of athletes to applaud their juniors' achievement. Sheer lust to remain at the top forever, some remarked. This is the main reason why sport cannot be uplifted in this country, when the experienced seniors without properly guiding them, treat the juniors as if they were their enemy.

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.

The Island Editorial

VAT and nuts

08 October 2016

 

The government is apparently tempting its providence to boost its revenue! One wonders whether it is becoming suicidal. Else, it would never have antagonised the public in this manner by heaping unbearable economic burdens on them in the form of tax hikes. It is hell bent on jacking up VAT at the behest of international lending institutions.

This is what happens to politicians masquerading as messiahs when power goes to their heads! They take leave of their senses, become impervious to public opinion and try to bulldoze their way through only to get booted out in the end. What befell the Rajapaksa government intoxicated with power is a case in point. All signs are that its successor is also headed in the same direction. The unconscionable VAT increase as well as its political fallout is sure to be its undoing.

The government ought to bear in mind that even with unprecedented economic relief it granted the public following the last presidential election did not help it secure a working majority in Parliament in August 2015. At that time its popularity was at the zenith. The anti-incumbency factor has begun to kick in. So, it is not difficult to guess how people will react to the government’s callous disregard for their grievances and its failure to make good on most of its pre-election pledges.

Allegations of corruption against government politicians and their lackeys have gone uninvestigated and the theft of public funds continues. The present dispensation which sought and obtained a popular mandate by promising to be different from its predecessor is also characterised by rampant corruption, abuse of power, cronyism, interference with state institutions, especially the police. So, if the government grandees think their popularity ratings have either increased or remain at the same level today they are living in cloud cuckoo land. The VAT will prove to be the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. They had better brace for a rude shock at the next local government polls which they cannot go on postponing till the cows come home.

Meanwhile, the Joint Opposition (JO) has, in a bid to make the most of the situation, called for housewives to dash coconuts in protest against the cost of living which has gone into the stratosphere. Their consternation is such that they may take to the streets seeking relief, but whether smashing coconuts will help knock any sense into the ruling politicians is the question. It is believed that people can invoke the intervention of deities to punish wrongdoers by smashing coconuts. But, no god will approve of the waste of coconuts at a time people are struggling to make the ends meet.

The harebrained coconut smashing project may help the JO gain some political traction by creating a media event. But, the poor people will be left without precious nuts for cooking. They will face a double whammy. The JO can gain more political mileage if it collects coconuts brought to the venue of protest and distribute them among the needy instead of smashing them.

When the arrogance of power sets in and a government begins to act like an ageing minister on an overdose of a potent aphrodisiac there is absolutely no need for the poor people to smash coconuts in a bid to seek divine intervention to engineer its downfall. Towards the latter stages of its rule the Rajapaksa regime was like a juggernaut careening downhill with a tippler at the wheel. A government in a lemming-like rush to destroy itself does not care two hoots about the economic woes of the people or public opinion.

Let it be repeated that people must not engage in wasteful pursuits such as breaking coconuts in public so that crafty opposition activists doing political cold turkey can gain some traction. The irate public can have the pleasure of watching the incumbent government commit hara-kiri like its predecessor.