Rs. 60 million spent for printing Grade VI English module with immoral reference

• Pages with such content to be removed for copies to be sent to schools

By Ranjan Kasthuri

The Education Ministry has decided to remove what is termed ‘inappropriate references’ in Grade VI English language models and distribute them among school children.   

Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa said that Rs.60 million had been spent for printing these modules in 350,000 copies. He said the pages with controversial content would be removed from the copies to be distributed among children.   

The Ministry is planning to issue fresh guidelines on the use of these modules. All the printed copies remain in storage in Colombo at the moment.  

Meanwhile, Convener of the Association of Educational Professionals Ven. Ulapane Sumangala Thera said that there is content in these copies that promote homosexual activities. He said students are directed to a web link as part of their curricular activities, which account for details related to same sex activities.   

The Ministry has, however, sought CID (Criminal Investigation Department) investigations into the inclusion of such content asserting that it should be part of a conspiracy to discredit the government in the execution of new education reforms.