Sirimavo Bandaranaike MV Principal Pushpa Kalubowila
says...
Swimming MUST be made compulsory subject in schools
By Ranjan Anandappa
Sirimavo Bandaranaike MV a school that has made rapid progress in its
33-year-old history in academic and exrtra curricular activities are in
the threshold of launching of a new venture to construct a swimming pool
of their own upto international standards.
The foundation stone will be laid by Susil Premajayantha Minister of
Education on October 27, 2006.
The estimated cost of the project is rupees thirty million and they hope
to complete it in 15 months, which is a challenging task.
For this purpose they are in search of funds and they earnestly hope
that the past pupils, well-wishers and parents will come to their
assistance. Being situated in the high security zone in Colombo 7, even
the parents find access to the school premises a difficult exercise due
to the tight security imposed, so the parent-teacher rapport has
remained low.
The proposed swimming pool will be of immense importance not only for
the school, but also for the neighbouring schools specially girls to
enhance their skills.
“Our country is an Island and it is high time that we made swimming a
compulsory subject in schools. It will not only help one to be in good
physical shape, but help you to save your life if catastrophies like
Tsunamies occur in the future. I believe that many who had the ability
to swim had saved their lives when disaster struck on that day”, said
the principal of the school Pushpa Kalubowila.
A lack of a swimming pool in any school creates a great void for the
students as they have to undergo great inconvenience while using a pool
which belongs to someone else.
Despite this set back, Piyumi Ekanayake a student of Sirimavo
Bandaranaike won a silver medal for swimming in the last SAG in Colombo.
Piyumi who spoke at the press briefing held at the Holiday Inn with
regard to the massive project, said that a pool of our own is an asset
to any swimmer. Usually we are accompanied by our parents to outside
swimming pools and a pool of your own could prevent this happening as we
get the freedom to swim at will. There will also be continuity of
producing more and more swimmers and the encouragement to promote the
sport.
The pool will be constructed in a 1,500 sqm plot of land at the
school premises adjoining the playground and the principal’s quarters.
The dimension of the pool is 25m by 17m including 8 lanes with a kiddies
pool. The fund-raising sources are The School Development Society, Old
Girls Association, Well-wishers and Education Ministry. |