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| Sunday, 28 August 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Primary education reforms revised The reforms which were introduced to the primary education system have now been revised with the addition of new features which place special emphasis on the study of languages, mathematics, religion and environmental activities. The reforms to the education system were introduced throughout the country by the government in 1999.
Children will learn Sinhala or Tamil as their mother tongue, while the national language other than their mother tongue will be taught as the second language under stages 1 and 2. The second language for Sinhala students will be Tamil while Tamil students will learn Sinhala as their second language. The formal education of English language will be introduced under the third stage, which is Grade 5. Through the study of a second language, students are expected to build up sensitivity among each other to the different communities, while learning to express their feelings through day-to-day communication. The revision of the 1999 Primary Education Reforms envisages mutual understanding among children belonging to different ethnic and religious groups at primary level, while strengthening their morals to face challenges as citizens with strong personalities. JICA assistance to develop education Rs. 370 million has been earmarked by the Government of Japan to develop the education sector in Sri Lanka. The project will be carried out through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The new project 'Improving School Management to Enhance Quality of Education with Special Reference to Science and Mathematics' will be funded by JICA. The objective of the programme is to expand Educational KAIZEN activities in the country by improving the capacity of Zonal Education Offices and school staff, and improving the quality of education especially of science and mathematics. The five Educational Zones - Kurunegala, Wellawaya, Bandarawela, Trincomalee and Jaffna in the North Western, Uva and North East Provinces - will be the target areas for the initial stage of this new project. It will begin in October 2005 and conclude in three years. JICA's targets for this project are to establish a sustainable management system and improve productivity in the zonal offices and schools which come under its supervision. The zonal offices will see the introduction of KAIZEN activities, the 5S system, the suggestion boxes system, an efficient filing system and an effective information sharing system. The project will also see the development of an efficient database management system and staff development activities for computer usage. JICA hopes the programme will bring in positive changes in school culture as well, through the participatory approach adopted by the parents and the community. Navodya Week at Medamulla School A special Navodya Week was held at the Medamulla De Mel Navodya School at Melsiripura, Kurunegala recently. The first day of the week, named as 'The day for moral values', started with the singing of the Navodya song. A lecture was delivered on 'Values for a better school' by Rev. Aluthwewe Mangala Thera. Different statements on values and good morals were displayed in each class, and every teacher was welcomed by the students, with sheaves of betel. A workshop on peace was also held where students from neighbouring schools also participated. The second day, named as 'Language skills day', saw speeches being presented on improving language skills and being more sensitive to the environment. A guest speech was made on better school environment, and why we need a second language. Students who won an essay competition were awarded prizes worth Rs. 25,000 by Dewasarana Developing Centre, Ibbagamuwa. Co-curricular activities were practised on the third day. A lecture on how co-curricular activities help to create a perfect being was presented, while all students visited religious places of worship and conducted a shramadana campaign. An exhibition on Science and Mathematics was opened the next day. Two
Advanced Level students spoke on Mathematics and Science. A large number
of exhibits had been prepared by O/L and A/L students.The last day of the
Navodya Week was set aside to appreciate aesthetics. A number of items
were presented in the three languages by students from grades six to
eleven at the school grounds. |
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Accordingly, the new syllabuses for Grades 1 to 5 have been arranged in
three stages, the first being Grades 1 and 2, the second, Grades 3 and 4
and the third, Grade 5. 
