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| Sunday, 3 November 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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School admission controversy : Is the Objection Board the solution? by Anjana Gamage Education is mandatory for all children. So stipulates the law. It doesn't say anything about the kind of schools in which the mandatory education is to be obtained. But, parents some of who have gone to popular schools and more who would have liked to have gone to popular schools are determined that their children should have the best education that's available. However, schools, best and even second, third and fourth best cannot accommodate the increasing demands for admission, especially to grade one classes. And here begins the battle between schools and parents, that seem as messy as the fallout of the open economic policy. Accusations have been rife about political intervention, favouritism and demand for financial gratification with many parents even lodging their complaints with the Bribery Commission. The battle, until now was seen as somewhat evenly weighed, with the parents having recourse to Appeal Board, when applications are rejected. But Admission 2003, has changed things somewhat, increasing the angst of parents in the process. For although the battle between parents and schools have not changed, the equation has with the cancellation of the Appeals Board and the specification that applications once rejected will not be reviewed or re-entertained. Many parents feel the move is unfair and discriminatory and question why such a decision was taken. The cancellation was effected on the directive of the Minister of Education, Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku, in a bid to minimise corruption. According to Education Ministry sources, parents applying for new admissions for year one will now have to strictly adhere to the criteria laid down in the admission circular, and applications once rejected will not be given a second chance. The schools Appeals Board which earlier offered a recourse to parents who feel the rejection of these applications was unjustified comprised representatives of the Education Ministry or the Provincial Education Director, a past pupil and the principal. They were required to review the rejected applications, and often gave parents a second chance to present their case and prove their child's eligibility. Minister of Education, Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku explaining his decision to cancel the Appeals Board said the admission issue was more or less limited to popular schools. Taking Royal College as a case in point he said that the school gets 4000 applications every year, of which only 400 are selected for admission. "What happens to the rest?", he asked. The Minister said that the Ministry has introduced an Objection Board in place of the Appeals Board where school admission will be authorised by the principal of the school". The Board will be headed by the school principal and it will comprise two senior teachers of the respective school, he said, assuring that no one will be discriminated by the system. Parents who think they were discriminated against by the Objection Board, can complain to the Secretary of the Education Ministry or go to the Human Rights Commission and the Supreme Court with their appeals he said. The Minister claiming the Objection Board was not a new innovation also assured that if the system proves to be a failure they will go for new changes. The minister justifying the decision alleged that certain principals and Appeal Board officers had entertained bribes from desperate parents to get their children admitted and said " If children fulfil basic requirements to be eligible for admission in the first application, a review will not be necessary. It will only make way for corruption". He assured that there will be no room for corruption under the new system, as per the circular issued by the ministry. However he pointed out that the rules and regulations for education is decided by the Education Ministry which will also decide to continue with the rules or not. "Although according to the 13th Amendment, more powers have been granted to Provincial Councils, on matters of education and Appeals Board, the final decision will be taken by the Education Ministry and not the Provincial Councils", he further said. Principal of Royal College: H. L. B. Gomes said that there are good and bad sides to the new system of admission, which ultimately aims at selecting applications for admission in the proper manner. "The plus point is that it gives total responsibility to the school authority" he said. Gomes explained that the Board of Selection comprised the principal, head of the primary section, a parent and an old boy. "In a school environment, normally the principal and the other members know all the relevant facts, such as distance to the closest school in that area, schools attended by brothers' etc. He was of the opinion that the committee should take total responsibility when selecting candidates. "This should reflect the integrity of the board", he pointed out. He identified Appeals Board as a mechanism that provided a second chance to protest. "Appeals Board were there, to rectify", he said adding that parents always wish to admit their children to a popular school. He felt that schools should make the right decision as a first choice. He also denied allegations of seeking gratification. " We have no chance of taking bribes. The parents will act against us, and we are answerable for our actions", he added. Western Province Chief Minister: Reginold Cooray said the Appeals Board were formed to give justice to children seeking admission for year one classes "We have come to know that some times applications had been rejected, even when all the required details and qualifications are completed. In a situation like that the parents' only hope was the Appeals Board, he said. He also charged that Minister Karunasena Kodituwakku had decided to cancel the appeals board on the flimsy excuse that political influences were being used through the appeals board. "That is very unfair", he said. The Chief Minister echoing a popular cry said it was every parents' wish to admit their children to a popular school. "It is every parents' wish to provide a good education for their children, he said and charged that by cancelling the Appeals Boards, the government was ignoring the parents' wish. He also vowed to continue protesting against the order and cautioned, "It is good to keep in mind, that according to the 13th Amendment, Provincial Councils have more powers". |
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