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| Sunday, 17 July 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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World Bank grant for education sector
The World Bank Country Director commended the efforts of the Sri Lankan Government to improve quality, accessibility and the standards in schools and tertiary education institutes. He stressed that even rural populations in the country have a high level of literacy and are aware of social issues as a result of having access to basic education. Accessibility to tertiary education needs improving however, he said, and added that this level of education should be extended to the remotest parts of the country. Report on education system Meanwhile, the funding body also launched Treasures of the Education System in Sri Lanka, the most comprehensive and scientific analysis of Sri Lanka's education system it has conducted to date. The report comprises five chapters and highlights issues that need attention in Sri Lanka's education system. The first chapter of the report provides statistical data, examines policies and the enrolment and organisation of the education system, while the second chapter presents a strong case on the economic and social benefits of investment in education. The other chapters focus on public investment and internal efficiency.The World Bank's future support to the local education sector is expected to be based on this report. Education Ministry sources commended the launch of this report as timely, as the Government was moving towards a more advanced cycle of education reforms, with rapid modernisation and accelerated development to reach global standards. ############ Dengue on the rise : Keep your environment clean
Are you in the habit of cleaning your environment? At home, do you clean your garden, sweep and burn dead leaves, collect and properly remove garbage, and get rid of discarded tins, buckets and other utensils which may be collecting water? These activities seem all the more important now that the dreaded dengue is rising its head, once again. Dengue, as you may all know, is spread by mosquitoes. So, to prevent you and your loved ones from being infected, you must ensure that there are no mosquito breeding grounds in your home or school compound. The number of dengue-affected children below five years has shown a 50 per cent rise in Colombo, while three infant deaths due to dengue were also reported within a month. However, the total number of cases this year has seen a reduction over last year's figures, while the number of schoolchildren affected has also declined by 50 per cent. Reports released by the Epidemiological Department has confirmed that the highest number of dengue patients were from Colombo and the suburbs. Gampaha and Kalutara came next while cases were also reported from areas like Kandy, Matara, Ratnapura and Kurunegala. The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has warned residents to be on the alert and has started inspecting montessoris in the city, for mosquito breeding grounds. Several prevention programmes have also been launched to prevent the spread of dengue. CMC authorities will also take action against households and institutions failing to clean up their environments. Dengue is a disease which generally spreads fast during the rainy season when water tends to collect in puddles and in discarded containers. Such stagnant water provides ideal breeding conditions for the dengue virus carrier mosquito, Aedes aegypti. There are four sub-types of the virus, and the type known as DHF (dengue haemorrhagic fever) is especially dangerous for children. The disease is not confined to Sri Lanka. It is a hazard in over 100 countries with over 50 million cases being reported annually from around the world. Action to prevent dengue is something you can also contribute to, as it is not difficult for you to keep your surroundings clean. This means not only your home and garden, but also your school where you spend a significant amount of time and where you are also open to the risk of catching dengue. Remember, it's children like you who are most vulnerable to this dreaded disease. ############# Museum for Adi Vasi community Are you interested in learning more about Sri Lanka's indigenous people, the Vanniyela Aththo or Adi Vasi? Now you can do so by paying a visit to the museum built recently in Dambana to showcase the Vanniyela Aththo community and their livelihood. The initial stage of the museum was completed at a cost of Rs 5.5 million under the guidance of Healthcare and Nutrition and Uva Wellassa Development Minister, Nimal Siripala de Silva. He also instructed the National Engineering Advisory Council to proceed with the rest of the project. The museum will provide an opportunity for the public to learn about the Adi Vasi community, their livelihood and cultural inheritance. It will also house an auditorium and two stages to showcase the community's traditional dancing and musical instruments. Stalls, which will be used to sell their handicrafts, will also be put up. The museum is certain to be an interesting place to visit. And since we will be celebrating the International Day of the World's Indigenous People on August 9, it is timely and appropriate that we pay more attention to our own indigenous people. |
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| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
The World Bank will grant US$ 60 million to the Education Ministry to
support its education development programmes. This grant is the World
Bank's highest for Sri Lanka in the second half of this year, and will be
offered towards the end of 2005.The grant will be effective over a
four-year period from 2006 to 2010 and will be utilised to strengthen the
current Government programmes to improve the education sector. 
