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| Sunday,13 November 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Framework to develop education sector The Government has planned a long-term, systematic framework to take Sri Lanka's education sector forward. The blueprint titled 'Education Sector Development Programme and Framework' (ESDPF) is envisaged for the period 2006-2010 and was developed following a major review of the island's education sector in 2004. The initiatives proposed under the programme are: promoting equitable access to basic and secondary education, improving the quality of education, enhancing the efficiency and equity of resource allocation and strengthening education governance and service delivery. It has been established that only 97.5 per cent of the children belonging to the school entry age-group actually enter grade one, and that only 97.6 per cent of these are retained in school upto grade five. Only 77.6 per cent of this group however go on for a secondary education. To tackle this problem, the Education Ministry plans to launch school- family networks with each family comprising five to 10 schools and provide access to primary, junior, secondary and A/L classes to avoid exclusion of children. Essential infrastructure and other basic facilities will be provided to all schools, while provision of free textbooks, school uniforms, subsidised public transport and free meals for undernourished children will be strengthened. Facilities will also be made to provide special education programmes for children with special education needs, while gifted children will be further encouraged through challenging learning environments. Suitable alternate learning opportunities will be provided for children not attending school and also for adults who missed schooling. To improve the quality of education, the Government plans programmes to enhance the learning capacity of children, enrichment of the curriculum, introducing new subjects with cross-curricular themes, improvement of the evaluation and testing system, enhancing teachers' skills and competency, school-based assessments, providing quality learning material and equipment, school management and community support, and promoting democratic values, social cohesion (bonding) and citizenship through school education. To achieve the third objective, the Government is planning a medium-term framework for education, a development plan including all aspects, and a public expenditure tracking system that will ensure that resources will be distributed equally. The framework will improve the quality of governance and services delivery by simplifying the education system, the decision-making and administration, organisational structure and implement well-planned and systematic human resource development activities. ################## Social Development Centres to help children Sixty Social Development Centres will be set up in the 59 divisions affected by the tsunami, with the aim of enhancing the protection and welfare of children who were affected by this disaster. The programme is implemented by the Women's Empowerment and Social Welfare Ministry. Save the Children in Sri Lanka, which is funding the programme, will be working with the Ministry in developing the services provided by these centres to the public. The foundation stone for the first centre was laid in Malamulla, Panadura recently. These centres are set up with the idea of providing social welfare services of local government administration to children and families. Service delivery activities of the Social Welfare Ministry will be well coordinated through these centres, and the public will have access to the services of even other ministries at divisional level. They will be staffed with skilled personnel to handle all issues related to child and family welfare. The Ministry believes that they will make a productive contribution to social development at village level. People will be able to get their birth certificates, assistance for health, legal and employment matters as well as any other social needs at these centres, without having to go to the cities. The centres are designed in a way to enable the space to be used for community gatherings as well. It will also be a place of safety for people in times of emergency. #################### International Day for Tolerance What is tolerance? It is respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of the world's cultures, communication and freedom of thought, conscience and belief. In short, it is harmony in differences. Tolerance is a much valued virtue that is fast disappearing in the modern world. In a world where people are concerned only with themselves and their material possessions, tolerance towards others is a rare trait. Living among others requires tolerance and patience, as without these qualities, you won't be able to get along with other people, and live in peace among them. Tolerance will come under the spotlight on November 16 when the United Nations observes the International Day for Tolerance. In 1996, the UN General Assembly invited member states to observe the Day with activities directed towards both educational establishments and the wider public. This action came in the wake of the UN Year for Tolerance, 1995, proclaimed by the Assembly in 1993. The Year had been declared on the initiative of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). On November 16, 1995, the UNESCO member states had adopted the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance and Follow-up Plan of Action for the Year. Although the Day can be used to promote the concept, building tolerance cannot be achieved overnight. It would take many years and commitments on the part of all, and requires access to education. Intolerance is rooted in ignorance and fear of the unknown, such as other cultures, religions and nations and also in overstated ideas of self-worth and pride. The easiest way to cultivate and spread this concept is to educate children on tolerance, human rights and basic freedom. |
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