4 July 2019 09:48 pm
The government will establish an education system catering to 21st century needs and capable of creating a new generation, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today.
The Prime Minister said this at the national programme launching ceremony to open new buildings in 250 schools held at the National College of Education in Peradeniya this morning.
“I do not know whether the students of the College of Education had thought that they were going to live till the year 2040 or 2050. It is essential that we begin to build up a new generation which could meet the needs of the world around 2050. We have to think about how education is going to be like in the next few decades. There may not be textbooks or blackboards. It is likely that there will be only smart boards and tabs. It is necessary that we prepare to face the future,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said the government’s programme of providing tabs to advanced level students is aimed at creating an education system which is suitable for the 21st century. “Advanced level students of all national schools will get tabs initially while the students of provincial schools will get next. All other schools will get tabs in the third phase,” he said in this regard.
He said the government had also taken steps to ensure that students who show various talents for sports and music get training in these areas within the schools itself. He said the government made a 13-year education compulsory with this aspect in mind.
“Some children have the potential for sports and music though they are unable to gain entrance to universities. Those in the Sri Lankan cricket team have not studied in universities but they are good at cricket. At least they were able to beat England in this year’s world cup. Our intention is to help those students who have an ability to excel in other activities to develop their skills in schools itself,” he added.
Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said a new education bill will be introduced soon. The Minister claimed that new building have been constructed in 1600 schools up to now under the Langama Pasala Hondama Pasala programme. He said new principals have been appointed to 4,000 schools. (Yohan Perera)