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| Sunday, 13 March 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Treat for cartoon lovers Here is some news that will delight the hearts of all cartoon lovers. Adventures of Ralahamy, Sri Lanka's first book of cartoons in English has been published and released into the local market. The first volume in a series, the comic book by Nilusha and Nina Alahakoon contains humorous stories set in the rural areas of the country. The stories are much loved and have been passed down from generation to generation. The book has been written to bring to the public popular stories of yesteryear, which could be enjoyed by both the young and the old. Sinhala words and local phrases have been used to give it a local flavour. Poems have also been used to enrich the language, which is kept simple. The book can help improve the readers' English knowledge, promote the habit of reading and provide light-hearted fun. It will also benefit children studying English and English Literature. Adventures of Ralahamy is simply a joy to read. The second volume in the series will be out shortly, so watch out for it! ########### A new lease of life for schools The Education Ministry has started the construction, renovation and development of 324 national schools, national colleges of education and teacher training colleges, with the capital allocated by the budget for 2005. The budget has set aside Rs. 1060.4 million for development work. This money, the highest allocated to date for capital expenditure in school education, will be used with the assistance of provincial councils, within this year. Meanwhile, Rs. 751.2 million has been allocated to renovate and develop 382 Navodya schools. Funds provided by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank will be used to develop new libraries, information technology units and science labs in these schools, during 2005-2006, the Ministry said in a news release. Meanwhile, schools destroyed by the tsunami and those used as camps for displaced people since then, will be reconstructed and renovated using donor funding and private sector assistance. ########## Making Maths more interesting You may or may not like learning Mathematics in school. For most students in the country, it is the most hated, boring and difficult subject. This has resulted in an alarming drop in the number of students passing the subject at the GCE Ordinary Level examination. Although it is a compulsory subject at the examination, only 40 per cent of the students manage to gain a pass. This has prompted the Government to introduce plans to make the study of Mathematics more exciting and interesting for schoolchildren.As an important step in this regard, the Department of Education will strengthen the teaching of Mathematics. It is planning to introduce innovative ways of popularising the subject among students, and also to develop their logical thinking skills and attitudes through the subject. Training programmes for teachers have already started. The popularisation of Mathematics in schools will be carried out in three phases. The plan is to infuse an element of innovation and excitement to the teaching of this subject. To make the classroom sessions livelier, another resource person will join the teacher. Talks are also underway with the Department of Examinations to hold a pre-test before the O/L examination. The objective of this pre-test is not to influence the O/L results, but to banish the lethargy associated with the subject and guide students to successfully sit the Mathematics paper. ########### Assessing tsunami damage to heritage sites
You know that Sri Lanka is home to many World Heritage Sites designated by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Some of these sites suffered damages in the recent tsunami. UNESCO has agreed to a request made by the Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Ministry to send a special team to Sri Lanka to inspect the damages caused by the tsunami to these sites, especially the Jaffna and Galle Forts. The team, after visiting these sites, will assess the damage and seek the possibility of lending its assistance to their restoration work. Other World Heritage Sites in the island were also to be inspected by the UNESCO team. ########## Art competition for displaced children
An art competition for children displaced by the tsunami was held at the Matara Maha Vidyalaya welfare camp recently. It was organised by students of the Postgraduate Institute of Management, of the Sri Jayewardenepura University, and the Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry. Forty children now living in the welfare camp took part in the competition with much enthusiasm. A winner was selected from the three categories: Pre-school, Year 5 and below, and Above Year 5, and prizes awarded to them. The three winners were: Pre-school category - N. J. T. Thurunu Buddhika, who attends the pre-school at the welfare camp; Year 5 and below - K. Ruwan Lakshitha, an Year 4 student of Pamburana Saariputra Maha Vidyalaya; and Above Year 5 - H. G. B. Buddhi Priyarangana, an Year 8 student of Weligama Siddhartha National School.All participants received gifts. Refreshments were served after the competition. |
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