Consider past proposals on education reforms: Opposition

Colombo, July 21 (Daily Mirror) -The government should consider earlier proposals pertaining to education reforms and include suitable changes, some opposition elements said today.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Rohini Kaviratne, who is a teacher by profession, said the government should take into consideration the proposals brought earlier. "There are sets of proposals on education reforms which have been prepared earlier. All political parties have agreed to these, as these were prepared by experts. Therefore, it is important to consider these as well when preparing education reforms," she said in a statement.

"It is better if the government brings in education reforms in the form of a white paper. The reforms could be subjected to a broad discussion through such a process," she added.

Also, she questioned the less emphasis made on subjects such as history, aesthetic studies and religion.

Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, who is a former Minister of Education, also said that the government should look at the earlier proposals for education reforms. "There is a draft of education reforms for which the cabinet nod was given during the Yahapalana government. All these should be considered. Education reforms should be free of politics as it is something to do with the children and the nation's future," Kariyawasam told Daily Mirror. He said no one will go against effective education reforms.

Meanwhile, Dallas Alahapperuma, who is also a former Minister of Education, said he will make a public statement on education reforms soon. “I will make a statement on education reforms during the coming days,” he said.

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya has refuted the claims that History and aesthetic studies have been removed. She said these subjects are included in the list of elective subjects in lower classes, other than five compulsory subjects. Also, she said history and aesthetic studies are included in the humanities scheme in grades 12 and 13. Furthermore, she told the media that new reforms have been prepared after consulting experts.

Key education reforms proposed by the present government include a skills assessment exam in grade 9, other than GCE ordinary level and advanced level and a school-based assessment system. In addition, children will be made to learn their mother tongue, English and a second national language, which would be Tamil in the case of Sinhala children and Sinhala for Tamil students.