MR insists on Mathematics

Thursday, 03 February 2011 22:14

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has stressed that the Education Ministry should maintain the status quo that at least a simple pass is required for Mathematics at the GCE Ordinary Level Examination for students to do their Advanced Level studies in any stream.

The status quo is that those who fail in the subject at the GCE Ordinary Level can start their Advanced Level studies on the condition that they obtain at least a simple pass during their second and third shies.

At Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, the Cabinet discussed the Education Ministry’s recent proposal that students who failed in Mathematics should be permitted to study for the Advanced Level exam in Arts subjects such as Music or foreign languages.

Ministers Dinesh Gunawardane, Basil Rajapaksa, and Anura Priyadarshana Yapa noted that students should not be discouraged through such a decision from studying Mathematics which is a vital subject for practical living. They told the meeting that students would not take a keen interest in studying hard for Mathematics if such a decision were taken.

Accordingly, it was decided to maintain the status quo. Education Minister Bandula
Gunawardane was instructed to redraft a Cabinet memorandum in this regard and present it next week. (Kelum Bandara)

Comments

-8+9 # natha 2011-02-03 22:35

GOOD BUT NOT GOOD

-10+17 # hemal 2011-02-04 10:05

I don't think so..
Think about professionals in foreign countries.. some professionals in various fields.. As I know many of them do not have qualifications in mathematics.
There are two sides for everything. I fell that the education ministers idea is a good one. I suggest that t should be altered to suit the Sri Lankan system.
People who are arguing against this idea..I urge you to think about it again.
I thank the minister for bringing this matter to the stage. Please hand it over to qualified people to make a decision about it.
Please think about the future too..
Thanks

-9+5 # Thasneem 2011-02-04 14:03

Very good Move by MR, Mathematics vital for practical living.

-0+0 # Paul 2011-02-05 16:23

I feel sorry for the Hon. Minister of Education.

-10+19 # SK 2011-02-03 22:48

At last...............the cabinet has taken a sensible decision!!!

-1+25 # Bonda 2011-02-03 23:14

Good move, lets set an education standard for the politicians too

-14+7 # P. Hewage 2011-02-03 23:34

Mathematical intelligence is no higher or lower than any other intelligences. So, why we are reluctant to give equal treatment to all intelligences. Education Minister is quite right.

Hewa

-7+6 # KHKaru 2011-02-03 23:45

To take up languages or aesthetic studies one must have the aptitude and it is a crime to deprive those of the opportunity even if they flop at maths. Those who do not have that aptitude will have to study maths by compulsion, to lead practical lives.

-2+23 # Tharaka Chanaka 2011-02-03 23:55

A very good move, can we demonstrate the paper in Parliament and see how many ministers would actually pass it?

-8+15 # Rajitha 2011-02-04 00:35

sensible decision. mathematics is the only REAL subject the OL students get to learn in the school. all the rest is just stamp collecting.

-1+22 # Rishan 2011-02-04 07:37

mathematics is an easy subject. Follow the basics and you can pass with a credit passing mark. .

-0+16 # Ranjith 2011-02-04 10:11

Because most of the things are simple as mathematics, every politicians should have at least a credit pass for maths at OL, even if they have some nonsense ACHAARYA UPAADIs

-7+1 # SL 2009 2011-02-04 12:05

Everybody is not as BRRAINYyyy as u my dear!!!!!!!!!!!

-2+16 # sam 2011-02-04 01:06

mathematics is the essential for day today living but currrent edu. minister do not understand this simple fac t

-2+21 # Ranjith 2011-02-04 02:40

Make it compulsory for all existing politicians from top to bottom to have at least a credit pass for maths. Do not consider the HORA (Aacharya) degrees given. If they already do not have send them back to school. Mrs Sirimavo B once gave a chance to study Law for those MPs who did not have any academic qualifications

-2+7 # Sena Harris 2011-02-04 02:54

"on the condition that they obtain at least a simple pass during their second and third shies".
What does this mean? Sri Lankan English? (Singlish?)
Do they have to obtain ordinary passes in two consecutive attempts?
"Shy" is a very informal word used for the word "attempt"

-3+12 # wadood 2011-02-04 03:12

Very wise decision by our president. It shows his forward thinking and desire to maintain standards of education among lankans. Well done

-2+15 # irosha 2011-02-04 03:33

Mr. Rajapaksha make sure all the cabinet ministers have at least a simple pass for O/L maths...

-11+4 # Yehiya-Doha 2011-02-04 06:40

EDUCATION & HEALTH MINITERS ARE DOING GOOD JOB.
ALOCATE MORE FUNDS. THATS YOUR DUTY. RATHER INTERFEARING HIS JOB.

-1+12 # R.Gurugamage 2011-02-04 07:01

Thank you very much for giving some sort of recognition for Mathematics, if a candidate cannot get a simple pass he or she should not worthy of studying for 10 years at a school-Argee

-1+4 # SriLankan 2011-02-04 07:28

Pre 1970 or NCGE we had selection of Maths, Arithmetic and Commercial Maths Papers. Each student could select his field. NCGE by Dr. Minister & Sec (Bududdin Mohomad & P Udugama) change the change of every student to same maths Paper but compulsory Passwas maintained.
Now the Tution Class Minister want s to remove the compulsary pass with out giving the option of student selecting the paper according to his ability.

-1+10 # yapa 2011-02-04 07:33

Make Mathematics and English compulsor at OL. This is the only way country can go forward - yapa

-2+8 # Jayson 2011-02-04 07:34

If you fail O/L maths join the politics.

-1+9 # Kolitha 2011-02-04 07:58

It is a very good move...I believe it is important to pass mathematics at least in GCE(O/L) to enhance the peoples thinking pattern.They will learn to look at the problems on scientific methods.
Mathematics is the Language of Science.
Anyway, I agree with most of the comments on politicians, as I believe it is must for them to pass the Mathematics at least in O/L's if they want to be a politicians.

-2+9 # abc 2011-02-04 08:05

Why shouting for s pass, if u can b a minister without all this.

-8+15 # ila 2011-02-04 08:19

I am living in a foreign country and met many people whose mathematics skills are not very good. Still they went to university and graduated from university in a filed that does not require math. Why does someone need to know mathematics if their specialization is English at university. This topic should be discussed at academic levels by professiors of university and teachers in the schools.

-0+1 # Geethal 2011-02-07 18:24

I agree. One problem is that every guy who has had a few years schooling imagines he can pontificate on this subject.
A complex subject of this nature ought to be left to Professionals,

-3+4 # Ashoks 2011-02-04 10:04

Is that all school children need?

-0+5 # ameen 2011-02-04 12:55

how many of our minsters does not have mathametics and OL qualification

-0+2 # siva 2011-02-04 16:14

Karuna,Pilaan don't have,even they didn't finished basic education.they are minister.

-0+2 # Priyantha kelaniya 2011-02-04 15:47

Yes Mr Jeson you are correct
If you fail O/L maths, you better stop your further studies and give your nomination to enter the politics. Finally they are the our leaders and ruling the country. That was happened in the past and still happing. More than 50 to 60 percent LG candidates are among them.

-0+1 # Apsara 2011-02-04 16:15

Our public relations minister can help poor boys to get some tution to pass O/L mathematics.

Apsara

-0+1 # mohamed 2011-02-04 21:09

that's good for produce knowledgeable peoples.......and another condition make in our constitution which is every candidate of election who should be passed jn A/L.

-0+0 # Labby 2011-02-05 10:54

how about a maths test as a qualifier for ministerial appointments ?

-0+0 # mixlife 2011-02-05 11:53

Its a Great Job !! if this decision would have taken in 2007 i would have sat for my A/L"s last Year !!

-0+0 # len 2011-02-05 14:15

Why cant they change the name of the Maths to Arithmetic and have a Simple arithmetic paper for the GCE O/L for the students who follow the Arts and commerce stream and have a maths paper for the children who have chosen the science stream. I belive those days they did have two subjects called Arithmetic and Commercial Arithmetic. and once they got into A/Ls the science stream students choose from Double maths or Bio. This was during the 70's....This is one possibility to make the Arts and commerce students to get to do the A/Ls and upward studies....Pls correct me if i am wrong.....

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