16 February 2017 10:03 pm
These principals had conveyed this to Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam during an urgent meeting held at the Ministry to discuss the clashes that broke out between two groups of students of Ananda and Nalanda and another incident at D. S. Senanayake College and also to discuss future security measures to be taken during the big match season to prevent such clashes from taking place.
Minister Kariyawasam inquired from the principals as to what action they had taken with regard to the recent clashes. He pointed out that Circular no: 2016/12 includes measures to be followed when safeguarding discipline at schools and it had empowered School Disciplinary Boards to take action against students who breach discipline.
However, principals were of the opinion that it was extremely difficult for them to adhere to this circular due to recommendations of the HRC and other institutions which had put forward procedures to be followed when disciplining students.
The minister instructed relevant authorities and officials to create a strong mechanism to uphold discipline among students.
He instructed officials to immediately recruit teachers who are counsellors and highlighted the importance of upholding discipline in schools.
“Principals and teachers are directly responsible for discipline among students. Parents too should share the responsibility of disciplining their children,” the minister said.
Principals and vice principals of Ananda, Nalanda, D. S. Senanayake, Royal, Thurstan, Isipathana and Mahanama Colleges in Colombo, Prince of Wales College and St. Sebastian's College in Moratuwa, St. Thomas' College-Mt. Lavinia and Sri Dharmaloka Vidyalaya - Kelaniya attended the meeting.