Consider past proposals on education reforms: Opposition

By Yohan Perera   

The government should consider earlier proposals pertaining  to education reforms and include suitable changes, some opposition  elements said yesterday.   

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.