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Airing educational
programmes during TV prime time
by Ananda Kannangara
President President Mahinda Rajapaksa has requested TV stations to
telecast more programmes with educational values during the prime time
between 7.00 p.m. to 9.00p.m.He made this request at a school function
held recently.
 Accordingly, the Education Minister Bandula Gunawardane has urged
schoolchildren to watch educationally valued programmes on TV, rather
than watching other programmes that could easily corrupt their young
minds and distract them from their studies.
The Minister told the Junior Observer that if this time duration was
allocated for such educational programmes, schoolchildren could broaden
their knowledge by learning even other subjects other than the usual
subjects they study in schools.
Minister Gunawardane also said most TV channels in the country today
use the prime time for screening teledramas or similar programmes which
are mainly based on unbelievable romantic stories , fairytales, crimes
and robberies which are not at all suitable for children but they too
get attracted to watch them at this time neglecting their studies..
Many parents cannot stop their children from watching programmes of
this nature, especially because of the time they were being aired". He
therefore requested the owners of TV stations to take heed of the
request by the President and give priority for educational programmes
for the benefit of over 4.2 million schoolchildren in the country
without only thinking of the commercial benifits they get by selling
prime time.
He said even in some foreign countries , the prime time of popular TV
channels have been allocated to screen educationally valued programmes
and this move has gradually helped wean away children from watching
television programmes which are not suitable for them .
Kent Ridge Junior + Developing
Programme to be held again
Kent Ridge together with the Junior Observer offers you a great
opportunity again to develop your character and build leadership
qualities
.The Kent Ridge junior+Developing Programme which will be held on par
with international programmes observed in Malaysia, Singapore and the
USA will be a memorable learning experience for local children .
The participants will be afforded an opportunity to work with teams,
learn to manage and lead teams ,interact with role models,make use of
their creative thinking skills,learn to respect nature and have great
fun too.The programme is scheduled to get off the ground on August 28 at
the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) from 8.30 a.m to 5.00.p.m.
The organisers will open the programme to 50 children in the age
group 9-16 years.
Reservoirs to become fish farming
tanks
by Rohana Jayalal
The National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) jointly with
the Fisheries and the Aquatic Resources Development Ministry has taken
steps to develop over 12,000 reservoirs in the dry zone as fresh water
fish farming tanks, Fisheries and the Aquatic Resources Development
Ministry sources said.
This will help develop the inland water fish industry. In 2010, fish
production from inland fisheries and aquaculture was 52,410 metric tons
and its contribution to the country's fish production was 13.6 per cent.
The Fisheries Ministry and NAQDA have made arrangements to increase
the inland fisheries and aquaculture production by 38,000 metric tons,
Ministry sources said. According to Ministry, Inland fisheries and
aquaculture play an important role in providing fish at affordable
prices to rural communities, while providing livelihood assistance,
strengthening the rural economy and bringing foreign exchange to the
country.
Developing reservoirs will help them increase their fish cultivation,
creating more employment opportunities for the young generation in rural
areas .
[News in brief by Rohana Jayalal]
More students sit for A/Ls this year
The number of students who are qualified to sit for G.C.E. A/L
Examination in August this year has increased by 50,000 when compared to
the previous year. Altogether 294,800 students are expected to sit the
exam between August 8 and September 3,according to Education Ministry
sources. They said ,the increased participation of students in
educational activities in the North and the East after the conflict and
the overall improvement of Ordinary Level results has led to an increase
in the number of students qualified for A/L studies this yeart.
“ About 350 ex- LTTE combatants will also sit the exam. at Vavuniya
Maha Vidyalaya. We will not have separate exam centres at welfare
centres this year”, the sources said.
According to the Ministry, there will be 2400 exam centres and 33
district level co-ordinating centres. 45,000 teachers and education
officials will be assigned for exam duties.
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Japanese Cultural Month
The Embassy of Japan is to launch a 'Japanese Cultural Month' from
August 5 to September 5 to celebrate 50 years of cultural relations with
Sri Lanka, Japanese Embassy sources said.
During the month several cultural events have been planned in Colombo
and thehill capital of Kandy to disseminate information on Japanese
culture and lifestyle as well as its popular performing arts and
aesthetics and to enhance the friendly relations between the two
countries. A contemporary film festival , featuring seven films
including two animated movies, has been organised from August 5 to 8 at
the National Film Corporation Auditorium and a two-day Cultural
Exhibition will open on August 20,at the Lionel Wendt arts
theatre,Colombo 7.
A Yosakoi Dance team will be performed at the, E.O.E. Pereira Theatre
at the University of Peradeniya on August 25and at the New Town Hall in
Colombo on August 27th.
Admission to Japanese Cultural Month events are free and will be on
first come first served basis, the Embassy sources said. |
