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Primary education in English medium: Bandula considering legal recourse

18 March 2019 10:37 am - 13     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Former Education Minister Bandula Gunawardane said he would take legal action against the in the English medium, disregarding the mother tongue of the student.

Asserting that children should be educated from Grade one to five in their mother tongue, he told Daily Mirror that English education could be gradually introduced thereafter. He said several other subjects could also be taught in the English medium after Grade five, but mother tongue should be the medium of instruction in the primary grades.

Mr. Gunawardane said he had consulted lawyers to file a Fundamental Rights application against the conduct of primary education in English disregarding Sinhala and Tamil as the mother tongue of many students. “In my opinion it is better to retain the child's mother tongue as the medium of instruction,” he said.

He said he was also against a move by the government to allow government sponsored private schools to open up branches. He said such a move would compromise the concept of equality in education. (Kelum Bandara)

 


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  Comments - 13

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  • gamini Monday, 18 March 2019 11:17 AM

    private schools will compromise the concept of equality in education, then what about private coaching classes which you were conducting

    sas Monday, 18 March 2019 11:20 AM

    A show man!

    Rupesh Monday, 18 March 2019 11:26 AM

    you are out in the next election.

    SAM Monday, 18 March 2019 11:33 AM

    We know of your English being a Tuition Master and also a former Minister of education. If so Tamil too should be treated the same way as English. So English is only for the high class where you have to pay to International Schools.

    Hamilton Monday, 18 March 2019 11:39 AM

    Mr. Gunawardane. You are wrong. English is an International language and Sinhalese is a local language not spoken in other countries except origins of Sri Lankans who live in other countries. Children should not be deprived of learning English from their small days. Look at our politicians today. How many of them can speak english fluently. Please don't try to damage the future of our Children.

    Lord Wolfstein Monday, 18 March 2019 11:43 AM

    This man is a fool who did not realize that the only chance for children in Sri Lanka is to be fluent in the English language. The younger a child learns other languages so easier it is. Apart from the fact that Sinhala is a dead language that nobody will speak in 100 years.

    L.C. Wedige Monday, 18 March 2019 11:47 AM

    Make sure first you pay back the money you borrowed.

    Polgampola Monday, 18 March 2019 12:05 PM

    What’s wrong this man? It’s absolutely unbelievable that he used to be the education minister some time ago. This man can’t think straight!

    mnsmart Monday, 18 March 2019 12:10 PM

    Yes you are correct, the world needs stone age communities too.

    ron Monday, 18 March 2019 12:42 PM

    Good move..those who are not happy are welcome to leave the country..

    Yehiya Monday, 18 March 2019 01:04 PM

    Where his children studied. Making fool the gallery.

    Dee Monday, 18 March 2019 01:37 PM

    If it's the local curriculum, you have a point! If it's a foreign curriculum, what's your problem?

    ravin Monday, 18 March 2019 01:54 PM

    supposed to be a former education minister/ tuition guru who earned his fortune from tuition . Do not be cheap foolish attention seeker. All communities must consider ENGLISH as a link language among communities for long term benefit . As far as general public knows all politicasses are short thinkers.


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