Educational Reform is on every educator’s mind and already we can see that this reform is taking place. While sensible results are being sought may I say that one area has not been much mentioned and yet, to my way of thinking, that area should take priority.
Now that we have a President with a vision we can at last hope that what one writer recently called an ‘obsolete system of education’ can be brought into line with a global educational 
system that will at last make use of the undoubted brain power of the Sri Lankan. This has remained somewhat untapped for a long time and was specially noticeable under the appalling direction of men like the last Minister of Education. Reform is vital.
However, there is one cautionary thought. Systems may be excellent but our first efforts in upgrading education must be towards acquiring a far better teacher population. At the present moment, the Sri Lankan graduate is often untrained and unsuited to the position of a teacher. The minute they finish their basic degree many graduates seek (and are given) teaching jobs. Some go on to do their Master’s Degrees but they still remain poor teacher material. Private Schools manage somehow but many Government Schools do not.
I speak from experience. As we embark on a much needed reform of the total educational system, we desperately need an intensive teacher training programme before our graduates are put in front of a class and asked to teach. In the advanced countries, specially of the West, teaching careers insist on a full time training period. Remember those Trained Teachers of 60 years ago? They were as good as any graduate of today….some times better. I am told that there are several teacher Training centres in Sri Lanka but graduates and other teachers do not take advantage of them. I feel that ALL persons need to have this training before they stand in front of children they hope to teach.
The first graduates of Sri Lanka were all products of the first University College which was then renamed the Univ. of Colombo with Sir Ivor Jennings as Vice Chancellor. All education was in English and so all training Colleges were in English too. The situation was not in keeping with the National Aspirations of the country so obviously changes were needed but what was a great pity was that the same standards of Teachers Training were not maintained. Also with the tremendous number of students now sitting for exams there should be a corresponding rise of good teachers. This has not happened. In 1950 or thereabouts there were 30,000 children sitting for their GCE O/L (then called the SSC) exam. Today the number of candidates touches 400,000 or so.
"At the present moment, the Sri Lankan graduate is often untrained and unsuited to the position of a teacher. The minute they finish their basic degree many graduates seek (and are given) teaching jobs. Some go on to do their Master’s Degrees but they still remain poor teacher material"
When the language change was foolishly hastened by SWRD Bandaranaike many of the trained English Teachers and Graduates took jobs abroad creating quite a shortage. When the Government realized what was happening it was too late and
Sri Lanka had lost those who could have bridged the change from English to Sinhala, Not the language of course, but the former methods of teaching were lost as were the liberal attitudes of the time. Chauvinism took over and nobody dared to criticize the folly of that Sinhala in 24 Hours Act.
So to get back to the point. We are now looking at an excellent proposed system that is going to accommodate children of varied talents and a system of Education is being envisaged that will benefit the non-academic child as well as the academically gifted child ensuring they ALL get an education that will guarantee jobs and future careers. It is a vision we have long yearned for.
I am sure that Teacher Training using new educational methods will begin. We need to look no further for guidance in this matter than to India. At the time I was Principal of Asian International School, we had many graduates from India who were either wives in the Diplomatic Service or else wives of Indian Bankers or CEOs of Indian Companies. One and all they were superlative consultants. ALL had had teacher training and this training even taught them how to deal with difficult parents! What a bonus that was.
I remember one of these teachers firmly but very courteously telling a mother of a particularly obstreperous child, “Ms. P. Why don’t you give my suggestions a try for a fortnight. Then you can call me an idiot if they fail.” This particular mother had indeed said that her ideas were idiotic. What was impressive was the manner in which this teacher handled an unpleasant situation without losing her cool. When I complimented her on her restraint she told me it had all been part of her teacher training course AFTER she had completed her Degree. Sri Lanka needs help in this quarter. We need trained graduates and teachers.
The last government announced that O/L and A/L students were going to be recruited for teaching positions. Had sanity flown out of the window? The present day Arts graduates are often barely properly educated. Our O/Level and A/Level education is just basic. The whole thing was a vote catching gimmick. Which sensible Government allows high school graduates to TEACH. They can be trained for many other jobs but NOT teaching. One hopes that if they have already been employed they can be
deployed elsewhere.
"When the Government realized what was happening it was too late and Sri Lanka had lost those who could have bridged the change from English to Sinhala, Not the language of course, but the former methods of teaching were lost as were the liberal attitudes of the time"
“Why recruit unqualified teachers?” asks R.S. Medagama, former Director General of Education Reform in an excellent article. Why indeed? A/Level students surely need a further 3 to 4 year training at least in order to be productive and useful?
Government School Principals and teachers have been much in the news for child abuse both sexual and disciplinary misconduct for the last 30 years or so. Acts bordering on sadism have been performed by some and highlighted in the Press with great regularity. Almost daily in fact. Punishments have been ridiculously bizarre and teachers seem to get away with it. Attitudes of some teachers disallow any disagreement with their decisions. Parents are silenced because they can do nothing but fall into line? I am speaking mainly of
the outstations.
The more sophisticated Government schools do not have this problem but what of the schools in the far away villages where there has been little, or no, supervision by the Dept. of Education so far? I am told that teachers often do not teach in class but encourage those who can afford it to take tuition from them after school. This makes Free Education a myth.
Kamanthi Wickremesinghe says in the Daily Mirror (Dec.10) that after 76 years, education in Sri Lanka is neither free nor holistic. My own thoughts on this vexatious question are to let those who can afford to pay choose the education they want. This may give the Government greater financial resources to upgrade schools that they support. My views are not popular because, of course, elitism may result but there is elitism now, in Sri Lanka as well as in most countries where education is concerned.
I am in no doubt that our President is fully aware of the situation and the tremendous changes that need to take place. My hope is that the first step for reform is taken bearing the teachers in mind. To have a highly trained teacher population in a country is probably one of the greatest blessings the children of that country can have.
We look forward to this with hope.
