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Kurunegala, March 17 (Daily Mirror) - A future SJB government will make English medium education compulsory, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said over the weekend.
"We will make English medium education compulsory for students from Grade one to thirteen," he said addressing a youth rally in Kurunegala.
"We will also teach young people Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Information Technology and computer science free of charge," he also said.
Neville Jayakody Sunday, 17 March 2024 12:27 PM
English compulsory and English medium compulsory are two different things, Sajith will receive for his fare share of short sighted views and knowledge of our rural education facilities!
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Mohan Sunday, 17 March 2024 12:45 PM
That will be a violation of the rights of the people to have education in their mother tongue.
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DD Sunday, 17 March 2024 12:54 PM
Nice move, indeed! Long ago, Banda threw the country in reverse gear. It's high time we put Sri Lanka back on the global stage.
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Dee Sunday, 17 March 2024 12:59 PM
Free of charge eh? That’ll be where the problems start!
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Gert Jan, the Netherlands Sunday, 17 March 2024 01:15 PM
In my country English is a mandatory subject at school, children learn English from a young age. A lot of children also learn French or German. Because Dutch is useless outside the Netherlands. But still Dutch is our motherlanguage, we talk and think in Dutch in our own country. So I don't understand why people in Sri Lanka speak English among their friends etc.
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Citizen k Sunday, 17 March 2024 01:27 PM
Totally agree.We as a nation should move forward by keeping up with other countries.We lose plum positions as we are not fluent in English.Educating the children in English ,we should follow latest trends and not just text book bound.Use retired English language professionals to draw training plans.
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Sunil Sunday, 17 March 2024 01:32 PM
I want to enroll immediately Sir, but my vote is for a different party!!!
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Dee Monday, 18 March 2024 01:02 PM
That party is ‘anti English’ - so you don’t need to learn English! Join a course in arson, rioting etc!
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Jeanne Monday, 18 March 2024 04:30 PM
@Sunil : I think the "different party" that you are referring to will be focussed on making the study of Che Guevara compulsory.
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KJ Sunday, 17 March 2024 01:45 PM
I'd vote for him just for this. We need English for the future generations to progress as a nation.
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Kumara Choksanada Sunday, 17 March 2024 02:11 PM
GCE O level certificate should be compulsory to become an MP.
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Anil Sunday, 17 March 2024 02:19 PM
Only if a future SJB government comes to power. Even that compulsory English medium is taking education back to about 100 years, when British started schools here.
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Cheers Sunday, 17 March 2024 02:24 PM
Future when will ever SJB wins a election he is gone nuts
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Sriyan Sunday, 17 March 2024 02:29 PM
So that people can talk using big words that no one can understand like you in am attempt to impress others? Please don't make others make fool's of themselves like you do. The IMF negotiations will be complete so they may not need to use their knowledge of the English language to negotiate with them like you stated you would.
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World Language Sunday, 17 March 2024 03:07 PM
There you go. The North and East realised the importance of English. SWRD ruined it. N and E begged the chauvinist government to leave the education set up to its schools to teach English. Downright jealousy and the idiotic robes prevented it. Will the 6.9 modayas agree to have E.?
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FRedSnR Sunday, 17 March 2024 03:14 PM
Every govt should make this the core of their education policies or be left behind.Take English to every village and town Even if the grammar is not right start using it one word two words ten words a hundred words you will be surprised at how quickly you progress conversational English
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Spartacus Sunday, 17 March 2024 03:32 PM
I think this is the only statement made with boldness and true governance and usefulness to the country by Sajith. Unfortunately, all the rest he rubbishes.
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Neo Sunday, 17 March 2024 03:42 PM
Imaging a teacher teaching maths in broken english to a student who doesn't understand english. This will create a generation that knows some broken english but no mathematical thinking.
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Jeanne Monday, 18 March 2024 04:33 PM
@Neo : seeing as the topic being discussed is English I find it the height of comic irony that your comment is totally garbled. Broken English or Broken Maths? What the heck are you saying?
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Pawan Sunday, 17 March 2024 03:43 PM
Talking to the gallery. Is he going to train all the existing teachers in English?
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Jayantha Sunday, 17 March 2024 04:09 PM
Vwey good move. Also teach german and french instead of other useless subjects. Also drop uselss degree programs that does not have any job demand both locally and internationally.
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Nihal S Sunday, 17 March 2024 04:10 PM
This will not happen. My village schools hardly have English teachers. The other point is that what you do with the existing teachers who can not teach in English medium? Talk to your rural membership before making big statements.
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SJB supporter Sunday, 17 March 2024 04:34 PM
News flash ! We already have these, freely available. This is the same joker who adamantly protested law college having exams in English ! What’s the point in English when you can take exams in Sinhalese or Tamil. Once a joker always a joker !
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lion Sunday, 17 March 2024 04:35 PM
You can make it compulsory but consider how you are going to appoint suitable teachers to educate our school children as there is a huge deficiency of English teachers in this country. First attend to it before making these unattainable pronouncements,
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Adwani Sunday, 17 March 2024 05:35 PM
Yey, you will loose Gamay vote base, villagers hate English Language.
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Man Monday, 18 March 2024 11:45 AM
Yes, It must be optional as teachers who speak English is also an issue now unless imported from the UK or so.
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Jrdw Sunday, 17 March 2024 05:58 PM
Okay thank you can you also please teach Marati free if so then I will maybe vote for you, when I retire.
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Tissa Fernando Sunday, 17 March 2024 06:13 PM
Empty promises. But good if he cam implement, the majority of teachers are not fluent on English. It is not easy to explain or understand complex subjects if the language proficiency is basic. He says they will teach certain subjects free of charge? Aren't these free already ? So who pays for the cost? Is it coming out of Premadasa family reserves or what? What a stupid statement he is making here.
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Trickster Sunday, 17 March 2024 06:51 PM
Oh no he opened his mouth and lost a bunch of votes.. pads anyone?
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Sambo Sunday, 17 March 2024 07:14 PM
These are all promises. Don't get misled by such statements made by politicians these days. They open their mouth and have no control over what they speak.
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Sam Sunday, 17 March 2024 07:32 PM
How could you say this when you didn't vote for the law college exams to be done in English. You all play politics without thinking about people. It's a good idea but now if you win, your opposition will vote against it. We are such an unfortunate country to have leaders like you.
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Upul Monday, 18 March 2024 02:18 PM
A very good observation. Proves his hypocrisy and double tongue.
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Citizens Sunday, 17 March 2024 09:26 PM
You sound so pathetic and desperate to win Sajith!!!!!
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A. Nus Monday, 18 March 2024 12:35 AM
This guy is like all party conference. Tells things whichever comes to his mind, to get a brownie point. A joke. Sri Lanka does not have a suitable candidate to lead the country. Please hire one from Singapore.
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Jude Monday, 18 March 2024 01:13 AM
Good chance SJB coming to power in more than 20 years time!! Not in near future!!
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Sam Silva Monday, 18 March 2024 02:09 AM
The way you use the English vocabulary. It's difficult to find it.
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Lord Nelson Monday, 18 March 2024 04:38 AM
Why give promises that you cannot fulfill. Not enough teachers in Sri Lanka to teach all subjects up to year 13 in Engilish.
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ANTON Monday, 18 March 2024 05:44 AM
NO NEED AS THERE WON'T BE A FUTURE SJB GOVERNMENT.
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THE TRUE Monday, 18 March 2024 06:16 AM
GRADE 5 TO GRADE 10 FOUR SUBJECTS IN MOTHER LANGUAGE, AND FOUR SUBJECTS IN ENGLISH.
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Sen Rajapaksha Monday, 18 March 2024 06:53 AM
Like JR's 8 grains (eta 8), he is now proposing 8 languages (basha 8)
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UAli Monday, 18 March 2024 06:55 AM
This is practically questionable due to shortage of quality and qualified teachers,but people around me, most attached to NPP promise of repealing of perks for politicians such as bogus pension, all the politicians now and then responsible for bankruptcy of the country including Central Bank gang,so they too taste the bitter results of it, add that too, to your valuable promises before late,
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Percy Wijenayake Monday, 18 March 2024 08:32 AM
Sooner this is implemented the better. Students who come to Australia and UK are struggling to get work experience and jobs as they are severely handicapped by their accent and unclear pronunciation of the English vocabulary . I recommend them to watch more English TV and Movies.
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Empty vessel Monday, 18 March 2024 08:44 AM
You mean the same type of English you have been using to impress people? Like, Literature English in common conversations?
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vijay Monday, 18 March 2024 09:35 AM
This while being a good thing if implemented, is alone sufficient for the likes of JVP/NPP to cry foul that there is a danger for Sinhala language
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Sue Kirthisinghe Monday, 18 March 2024 10:06 AM
Mr. Premadasa. Be realistic. We do not have that many teachers in our country to teach English. Most English teachers, even the trained ones in Govt. schools are are not suitable to teach English. They can hardly put two sentences together let alone teach. Furthermore, you will have the "always protesting" 'Anthare' and the JVP up in arms about making English compulsory because that's something they will never allow to happen. They hate; I mean really hate those who are able to converse, read and write in English. Do some research before you promise the moon and stars.
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Jeanne Monday, 18 March 2024 10:42 AM
What a wonderful and refreshing promise, and about time too. We may have to engage tutors from India and Singapore to achieve this but, it will be very well worth the investment. Let's get back to basics. And let's represent our country internationally, with pride!
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Concerned Sri Lanakan Monday, 18 March 2024 11:07 AM
Hope Sajith can learn some effective communication skills in English without using words that are not in the dictionary.
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FredSnR Monday, 18 March 2024 11:20 AM
Use modern technology to assist, we are in an age where we can direct a robot which has landed on the moon, doctors assist in surgeries from far off places SL is so tiny every part is accessible we have the radio computer mobile phone and internet should think outside the box or better still ask the teenage sons and daughter for solutions they are Globally Connected today don't need qualified teachers in the conventional sense to get going, everything is in the cloud start with Conversational English
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dana Monday, 18 March 2024 11:58 AM
NPP is straight forward on revoking perks for politicians, especially on questionable pension, it catches floating votes due to current situation of the country, you better present to public,which can overcome that sooner before floating votes established with NPP
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Tissa Fernando Monday, 18 March 2024 06:56 PM
NPP has no plan.
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Patcitz Monday, 18 March 2024 08:33 PM
The US COMMAND has already taken over the measure by ordering Ranil to do that. If you can, wipe out HINDI language that DOMINATE Sri Lanka from practicing in SRi Lanka. Neither the Hindi Language nor the Indians should be allowed in to Sri Lanka.
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