To improve transparency, minimise corruption:

School admissions streamlined

In spite of the prospect of not getting the opportunity of attending a 'Colombo school, Santhush Devuru Kolambage was in high spirits.

Wiggling his legs that didn't quite extend beyond the seat of his father's trishaw, the little tot rattled on about his 'montessori mischief'. "We are only applying to schools in the area", said Santhush's mother Sunethra. "It is better to send our son to a nearby school because it is easier for us to commute back and forth", she said.

Santhush's parents were initially discouraged to apply for schools in Colombo because according to the new Year One school admissions circular, little Santhush, who resides in Piliyandala, would not stand a chance of being admitted.

According to the new circular priority will be given to children living in close proximity to the school applied for, children of parents who are past students of the school and siblings of students already in the school, in that order. Parents can apply to a maximum of six schools and the child should be five years of age as at January 31, 2011.

The objective of the new school admissions system is to check corruption and favouritism which have plagued school admissions for years. Under the new system a principal of a parallel grade school will chair the Appeals Board, a post which was held by officials of the Education Ministry in the past, with observers from the Ministry of Education and Provincial Department Education.

Members of the interview board will include the principal, primary school headmaster or mistress, the most senior member of the staff, a member of the parents-teachers guild and a member of the past pupils association.

Under the new system the Ministry of Education wields minimum influence over the admission procedure. The whole process has been handed over to the schools, making it more transparent.

No changes have been made in the percentages relating to distance from schools and children of past pupils.

No major changes have been made in the curricular due to lack of time.

Applications for Year One admissions will be open till June 30, said Secretary, Ministry of Education Sunil Sirisena. "We will not give directives to principals but are prepared to take legal action against any corrupt individuals", he said.

More English medium schools

Classes for Advanced Level students in the English Medium are to be launched soon in several schools in Avissawella, Padukka, Homagama, Colombo, Kalutara and Gampaha to relieve the demand for popular schools in Colombo for English medium education.

Under the new circular, school principals have been authorised to recruit students. "This is a good trend", said Principal, Ananda College, Colombo L. M. D. Dharmasena.

"Earlier, principals were responsible for all school activities including maintenance and management, but they were never given the responsibility of recruiting their own students." Principal Dharmasena explained that as a result, brokers grabbed money from poor parents with the promise of getting their children enrolled in leading schools in Colombo.

The Education Ministry assures that following the new circular there would be no room for political influence and the principals have the right to report any form of corruption to the Ministry. "The new circular provides the opportunity for us to maintain transparency", said Principal Dharmasena. He explained that it would facilitate open discussions between parents and principals which was not possible under the previous system.

But Principal, Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo Sandamali Aviruppola said that the new circular has burdened the principals with more work.

"The former system is much better. A principal's major responsibilities lie with the children's education and student development." Aviruppola explained that irrespective of the system, its success depends on the school's representative to the interview and appeals boards. The new duties would take principals' time away from those activities that need more immediate attention. "It is an unnecessary burden for day-to-day administration," she said.

-SP