Academics form 'Education Development Society', in EP

by S. Moses

'Education Development Society', an organisation to improve the standard of education in the Eastern Province has been launched by educationist headed by Professor M. Selvaraja of Eastern University.

The past two decades of horrible civil war in Sri Lanka disrupted the development of education in the eastern province. The standard of education in our schools and universities dropped drastically mainly due to the effect of the war situation that was prevalent in this region.

In this situation, the educationists and those who were concerned about education of the people of the eastern province remained impotent over the gradual deteriorating situation, the schools were in need of buildings and teachers mainly for teaching the subjects such as science, mathematics, and English. Similarly, the students in the universities suffered insecurity in many ways.

To make a positive change in the current trend of education in the east, Prof. M. Selveraja has, from his recent concern about the downfall of the education appeared in press, offered to revive the development of education.

He has formed an organisation, "Education Development Society" inclusive of academics and intellectuals from all three communities in the districts of the eastern province.

In an interview Prof. M. Selveraja, he revealed his concerns about the present slackness in the progress of educational process and emphasised the reawakening of education in the east is timely and is the need of the hour.

With the collaboration of all the people, religious leaders, politicians, intellectuals, he seems to be determined to take forward the farsighted vision of enhancing the opportunities for teaching and learning process and active participation of students and academics in his area.

Prof. Selveraja, a rare academic both nationally and internationally reputed, had several higher academic degrees in education. He obtained them from both national and international universities. He secured his degrees, B.Ed (Hons), Master of Education, Master of Philosophy, Master of Education in Education Management and Education Administration in the universities from Peradeniya, Colombo, Colombo and Leeds in UK respectively.

He started his services in education as a teacher working in several leading schools in Colombo including D. S. Senanayake Maha Vidyalaya.

Then he served as a principals to the Colombo Hindu College, and Sivanantha Maha Vidyalaya, Batticaloa.

After being selected to the Sri Lanka Educational Administrative Service, his commitment and sense of service further widened. He pioneered in the initiating of field of management in education in the National Institute of Education.

Once he was a lecturer in education, the magnitude of his service and commitment were enormous. He was instrumental in starting subject of education for the undergraduate course in education and later developed it to the special degree in education in the university Sri Lanka. He tirelessly worked and helped in the establishment of the Department of Education and Childcare which now conduct course, The Master of Education as well.

Fifty students, including teachers, principals, In-service Advisers, Zonal Directors, Assistant Directors of Education from a variety of educational institutes are following this master degree course at present.

In the case of pre-school development, he worked as the first director of the Institute of Pre-school established in the Faculty of Arts and Culture. This institute offers a one year Diploma, and Certificate courses in Tamil medium for pre-school teachers in the province.

He expressed his vision of developing the system of management in the schools. He stressed the need of tuning the knowledge and management skills of the principals who are interested to learn in the field of management.

He said that he is taking all the steps to start Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma in school management for principals soon in the eastern university.

Rs. 6.75m to provide housing for gypsy families

Anuradhapura district special corr.

To mark the second anniversary of President's accession to office, the special housing project to accommodate the 'gypsy' families living in tents close to Mahakanadarawa Tank, Mihintale would be completed with the Rs. 6.75 million allocated to it, said Nation Building Minister S. M. Chandrasena.

Each housing unit would be allocated a Rs. 250,000 for completion of construction work.

The rationale behind the project is to rehabilitate these Telengu families, where tribe is accustomed to a no fixed abode.

Meanwhile, the Mihintale health office have launched several programs to raise awareness among the rural families about cleanliness, environmental pollution, use of toilets etc.

More facilities for local Govt politicos

Matale district group corr.

The necessary facilities for the representatives of local government have been provided by the Government during the last period. But my personal intention is to enhance these facilities.

Because they have to perform a lot of work in their purviews. So I have decided to submit a Cabinet paper to increase their monthly allowances, said the Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government, Janaka Bandara Tennakoon.

He was speaking at a meeting held at Namala Hotel, Polonnaruwa in Matale district. He said that about 173 local government bodies are in backward state. So the Government has decided to strengthen them providing all infrastructure facilities. In the future these backward local bodies will be uplifted.

The Government will develop these areas with foreign aid while several projects have been already been implemented. The public representatives should be dedicated to serve the people.

The Minister said that the majority of the public don't think about the country or the nation. Many disastrous incidents could have been avoided if they had any sense of patriotism.

The public elected their representatives to serve the masses and not to hurt them. But certain politicians are behaving indecently. Such persons are unable to go forward, he emphasised.

Meanwhile the Government has made every possible attempt to restore peace and order in the country for people to live in peace. The election will be held soon in the Eastern Province to activate the local bodies after that the provincial council's election will also be held in that area, he added.

Provincial Secretary of Local Government A. M. U. D. Alahakoon also spoke.