There are countless mushroom international schools operating all over
the island. While all other schools are guided and monitored by the
Ministry of Education, it is not understood why only these so-called
international schools in particular, carry on regardless without any
guidelines or supervision by the State.
This is a grave situation which has to be remedied forthwith in the
interest of the parents of such students who subscribe for the existence
of these schools through great hardship paying exorbitant sums as school
fees.
Most of these international schools attract parents with the words
international school displayed on their signboards and thereby merely
creating a pseudo image to themselves.
Also, a short-fall in the teaching staff is a common feature in most
of these international schools and many are understaffed to make matters
worse. Then comes the quality standards of the personnel engaged in the
directorate and management field in many of these international schools.
Most of them do not even possess the basic educational requirements.
This is a sad situation in most our international schools. Hence it is
heartening that the Ministry of Education has been awakened to the
reality of this situation and is in a process of presenting a bill in
Parliament to register all these schools and arrest this sad situation.
Don Sarath Abeyesekera
Our security forces have once again accomplished a remarkable victory
in identifying and destroying three floating warehouses, about which all
peace loving citizens should be happy.
If the consignment therein arrived safely on our shores, the
destruction it would have caused to life and property would have been
immense, sinking our country in stages. This behaviour of the LTTE
confirms beyond doubt that they are not for peace which is pathetic and
regrettable.
The timely detection by the Navy is extremely commendable, confirming
that if there is a will there is a way, while assignments when entrusted
to right people with experience and determination, they are bound to
strike success, similar to the one above.
However, let's hope that this bloody war which is sucking the country
white would end with both sides sincerely agreeing to a negotiated
permanent settlement. In doing so they should not try to have the cake
as well as eat it, while their sympathisers should not encourage same,
ending the process with a coma, and not with a fullstop.
Tommy Wanigesinghe
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