‘Principals reluctant to act due to human rights concerns’

16 February 2017 10:03 pm - 8 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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School Principals of leading Colombo schools, several of whom were forced to discipline students who were found to have been part of clashes that occurred on Wednesday (15), said that they had been put in an awkward position as a result of strictures imposed by institutions such as the Human Rights Commission (HRC) with regards to student discipline.

These principals had conveyed this to Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam during an urgent meeting held at the Ministry to discuss the clashes that broke out between two groups of students of Ananda and Nalanda and another incident at D. S. Senanayake College and also to discuss future security measures to be taken during the big match season to prevent such clashes from taking place.

Minister Kariyawasam inquired from the principals as to what action they had taken with regard to the recent clashes. He pointed out that Circular no: 2016/12 includes measures to be followed when safeguarding discipline at schools and it had empowered School Disciplinary Boards to take action against students who breach discipline.

However, principals were of the opinion that it was extremely difficult for them to adhere to this circular due to recommendations of the HRC and other institutions which had put forward procedures to be followed when disciplining students.

The minister instructed relevant authorities and officials to create a strong mechanism to uphold discipline among students.

He instructed officials to immediately recruit teachers who are counsellors and highlighted the importance of upholding discipline in schools.

“Principals and teachers are directly responsible for discipline among students. Parents too should share the responsibility of disciplining their children,” the minister said.

Principals and vice principals of Ananda, Nalanda, D. S. Senanayake, Royal, Thurstan, Isipathana and Mahanama Colleges in Colombo, Prince of Wales College and St. Sebastian's College in Moratuwa, St. Thomas' College-Mt. Lavinia and Sri Dharmaloka Vidyalaya - Kelaniya attended the meeting.

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Comments - 8

Citizen Friday, 17 February 2017 03:46 AM

Welcome to the Western world!

chitra Friday, 17 February 2017 04:17 AM

They can have human rights if they act like humans.

Afeef Friday, 17 February 2017 05:39 AM

We must get back to the good old system of discipline within certain boundaries, which made us better citizens, instead of adopting everything from the western world - what did their humanitarian approach achieve - child pregnancies, single parents, divorce, porn, drug addicts .... and we are slowly falling in to the pit

Don Friday, 17 February 2017 06:21 AM

Havent they heard of suspension via DM Android App

Dr.Watson Friday, 17 February 2017 06:56 AM

A glorious passing of the buck. Now they cover their inefficiency with human rights. These principals are no shade of what these two great schools had in the past. It is best to have an old boy as the principal and not timeservers.

James Friday, 17 February 2017 12:51 PM

Why is the country is full of Pambayas

RNA Friday, 17 February 2017 01:40 PM

By not taking action against the students, the principals themselves convey the message that they encourage this kind of behaviour.

RK Friday, 17 February 2017 03:00 PM

A student spends maximum of only 6 hours a day, which is only 30 hours a week out of total 168 hours in school. So balance 138 hours are spent outside the school, so how can you blame or punish the principles of a school. A student spends almost 80 hours a week (excluding sleeping time) at home and around, so it is the complete responsibility of the parents of how they bring up their children. They need to know who their son's friends are, their hideouts etc.

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‘Principals reluctant to act due to human rights concerns’

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