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| Sunday, 29 May 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Improvements on the cards for school curricula The Ministry of Education, National Education Commission and the National Institute of Education (NIE) have planned a programme to improve the quality of the existing curricula in primary and secondary schools. This is in keeping with the requirement of a review and revision at the end of an eight-year term, which began in 1999 with the education reform programme. The revisions to the curricula will be implemented from January 2007, the Education Ministry said. The changes will focus on enhancing the competency based, and activity or problem based approach to learning. Emphasis will be laid on project work, assignments and building team work, leadership and other skills required in a competitive and rapidly advancing world. Outdated teaching methods will be discouraged, from Grade One. Content overload will also be minimised, making the new curriculum interesting and exciting for young children, promoting curiosity, imagination and creativity in learning. Multi-ethnic, and multi-cultural values will be emphasised through relevant subjects in all grades. University academics who have recent research experiences in the area and international exposure, and teachers from State and non-State sectors have been invited by the Ministry and the NIE to participate in preparing the new syllabus. Once the changes to the curricula are finalised, and syllabus revision completed, the authorities will start working on publishing the required books and teacher guides. All new syllabuses, books and guide books will be modernised and brought on par with those of countries like India, Malaysia, Singapore, and the UK. Examination papers will also be prepared through a similar process so that they also improve. Training teachers for this initiative will begin early next year. *********** Programme to feed children Food For Life (FFL) has expanded its efforts to feed children in tsunami-affected areas in the Jaffna district. Around 1,300 children are now served nutritious meals every day, through this programme, carried out with the assistance of volunteers. Since March 21, FFL workers had been carrying out this project to feed the children of Sivaguru Vidyalam, a school with a student population of about 600. The project will be expanded to Sidambara College, which has about 400 students, and Kallaty RCT Vidyalaya, which has about 300 students. Most students of these schools come from coastal areas in the region. Most of them lost their homes in the tsunami and are now living with their families in makeshift shanties. Under such a situation, they haven't been receiving proper nutrition. FFL responded to this need and is now providing cooked meals for them each day. According to a World Food Program report, malnutrition causes 60 per cent of child deaths in developing countries each year. The report showed that an average of 11 children die per minute from hunger-related causes. *********** Hospital for elephants Soon, our jumbo friends will have a hospital of their own. The first hospital for elephants will come up in the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage in the Kegalle district. This is said to be one of the first of its kind in the whole of Asia. The ground work for this project has already started and material worth Rs.100 million has been donated by the German Government. The donation includes an X-ray machine and a machine to test the elephants' blood pressure. Once this hospital is completed, it will serve the ailing jumbos, taking into consideration all problems afflicting them. |
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