Eradicate politics from schools: Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith

3 October 2020 08:11 am - 23 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Eradicate politics from schools and let them become divine institutions which teach the children how to live according the ways of their religions, Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith said yesterday.

Cardinal Ranjith who was speaking at a ceremony organised to mark the centenary of St Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa, said that today, school principals and teachers have been forced to follow instructions of politicians.

“Politics crept into schools with the government takeover of private schools in 1960. School principals and teachers have been forced to follow the instructions of politicians, today. We saw how a politician got a teacher to kneel before a child and apologise after he was punished by the former. Schools have to be allowed to become divine institutions which teach a child to live according to the teachings of his religion. Politics should be taken out of schools,” Cardinal Ranjith said.

“ When we talked of banning tuition classes on Sundays the neoliberals began talking about the right of the child to go for tuition classes. A child has a right to go for tuition classes; doesn’t he have a right to engage in religious observances?” the Cardinal questioned. (Yohan Perera)

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Comments - 23

Nimal Saturday, 03 October 2020 08:38 AM

Cardinal, you are a Catholic because of the Portuguese invasion and occupation of Sri Lanka.

dot Saturday, 03 October 2020 08:40 AM

once upon a time we learned about the Good government and civic rights in a subject called civics ....today its different with the social media and knowledge fake or otherwise at the press of a button and also our stories from history has so much political slant ...but needed to understand how we evolved to the thinking of our time ..its a tremendous complex task ..this formal education .

Sokrates Saturday, 03 October 2020 08:41 AM

But you also have to remove the priests from the schools.

Gamarala Saturday, 03 October 2020 08:55 AM

I and many others feel that religion should be kept out of schools, religion should be a private belief and has no place in a school or office. It is best to keep religion out of everything including politics,

ACA Saturday, 03 October 2020 09:07 AM

Not only politics, religious and racial bias ness too.

Sam Saturday, 03 October 2020 09:08 AM

School admissions based on religion is already the main divider of Sri Lankan society, a system put in by colonial masters and still being carried on by our idiots. It is even against the universal declaration of human rights signed by Sri Lanka at UN. Let everyone practice and learn their religion at schools or anywhere, but do not make religion the criterion when taking children to schools to select children of one particular religion only into a school.

Tupac Saturday, 03 October 2020 09:23 AM

First stop charging million rupees for admission!!! For catholic schools shame !!!!!

Athula Karunathilaka Saturday, 03 October 2020 09:25 AM

Our great Thanks to Rev.Cardinal Father, Very important to culture good qualities among school children. In today tution classes good qualities and good life experience of tution master's not reveal to children. Subject materials elaborated.In our time turion master's revealed their good values to students.This happens in all Education Instituetes even in Universities. We need to adopt good qualities.

Yehiya Saturday, 03 October 2020 09:36 AM

Cardinal sitting on wrong place must be in Parliament.

Atheïst Saturday, 03 October 2020 09:37 AM

Some people are good decent people without being religious.

Andrew Silva Saturday, 03 October 2020 09:40 AM

Well said Cardinal. Our politicians wants to add 2 and 2 and make it 5.

Carly Saturday, 03 October 2020 09:48 AM

Evict religion from schools while you are at it. Religion could be taught from a historical point of view. The rest of it should be personal.

ram Saturday, 03 October 2020 09:09 PM

I totally agree with you. religious is person believing and no need to teach at schools. specially as a compulsory subject.

Jude Saturday, 03 October 2020 09:49 AM

His eminence, Pls.refrain from making political comments!! Period!!

Amen to Politics Saturday, 03 October 2020 09:50 AM

Eradicate politics from religion first. Follow the example of Hindu priests.

Atheïst Saturday, 03 October 2020 09:56 AM

And some religious people are not good and decent

ala Saturday, 03 October 2020 05:47 PM

Dear Cardinal , it seems that you are doing a government contract by sidelining the real issues affecting our society by bringing up useless issues. Can you state your stance on the 20th amendment ? You were very vocal during the Yahapalana but now you do not even comment on issues concerning civility.

pragash kumar Saturday, 03 October 2020 06:03 PM

first better you remove polictics from chruches which happen first time in history under you

Buddhist Saturday, 03 October 2020 06:27 PM

Good idea but before that what about religious leaders participating in politics?

Buddhist Saturday, 03 October 2020 06:27 PM

When one does politics cannot tell others not to do.

Gharry Saturday, 03 October 2020 06:33 PM

Nowadays, most of the Male Teachers arrange Night Classes for young boys/girls students, the purpose mainly because to ABUSE THE CHILDREN SEXUALLY. We have prima facie evidence to this very comment. Well, this is not an allegation but a truth.

Gharry Saturday, 03 October 2020 06:37 PM

Well, the previous Gavapalanaya government politicized every sector from school, Orphanage, Home for elders etc...etc....etc, anyhow, this trend changed after Patriotic Rajapaksas took over the country to treat every citizen equally.

BuffaloaCitizen Saturday, 03 October 2020 07:00 PM

You are an example of how politics can infiltrate religion and have it make statements according to their requirements. Did any of the past Catholic Heads in Sri Lanka make controversial

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Eradicate politics from schools: Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith

Comments - 23

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