Science and IT facilities in schools:

Measures taken to identify shortages

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The need to set up Science Laboratories and Information Technology (IT) centres in some schools in the rural areas in the country, is being looked into by the Government.Education Minister Bandula Gunawardana said he has paid special attention to this urgent need.

According to Education Ministry sources some schools in certain Provincial Council and Pradeshiya Sabha areas have to be provided with computer centres and more equipment for the existing Science laboratories, to carry out their educational activities in the new school year.

Minister Gunawardana told the Junior Observer that a team of education officials will be deployed to identify schools that need computer facilities and Science laboratories, shortly.

He said steps will be taken thereafter to provide computers and the necessary equipment to laboratories without delay.

He said in addition, the government had recently recruited a large number of teachers to teach Information Technology at many schools.

Minister Gunawardana also directed all school principals to submit their proposals, so that the Education Department could take necessary action to establish computer centres and laboratories in their schools.

Meanwhile, Science and Technology Minister Prof. Tissa Vitaran said 'Vidatha Centres' have already been set up in schools to improve the knowledge of Science and IT among schoolchildren.

He said his Ministry will also provide necessary equipment to these centres in the future.

A new dawn with fresh hope...

The clock is ticking away the old year and soon we'll complete a decade into the 21st century. Everyone, the world over awaits the dawn of a new year with fresh hope because it is a new beginning.

The New Year will be welcomed amids much revelry all over the world at the stroke of midnight on December 31. Many take stock of what they have achieved over the year and make plans to achieve new goals in the coming year.

You too can take time to look back at all your successes and failures, in the academic field or in your personal life and resolve to overcome the hurdles that prevented you from reaching your goals in the past.

The New Year is also time to make resolutions such as good habits you may want to form, bad ones you definitely want to stop, new targets you want to set and so on.

It is important to make resolutions, however it's more important to keep them without giving up on them, half way through.

Have you made any New year resolutions? One of the resolutions you could make, especially if you are weak in your school work is to study hard and improve your grades.

Here are a few more resolutions you could make; learn to be punctual, cultivate good eating and personal hygiene habits, be polite and courteous, be respectful to teachers and elders, obey your parents, be kind to animals and helpful to everyone.

In a nutshell, you could make a resolution to be a better person!

Be careful with fireworks

Protect yourself and also the animals, especially your pets :

It is the season to celebrate and there is going to be plenty of fireworks, especially on New Year's eve.Some of you must be eagerly waiting to light sparklers, sky rockets and various new types of crackers and fireworks which flood the market today... Be careful when you light them because not only you could get injured but also others around you who could end up with burn injuries. Always get an adult to help you or be with you when you light them.

Just as much as you should protect yourself and others,especially very little children from the possibility of being harmed by these fireworks, you should also be careful of the animals in the area. They too can be burnt or injured by these firecrackers.So please, be on the look out for these homeless dumb friends too who wander the streets, when you light them.There are some children and even adults who enjoy throwing fireworks at animals just to watch them run, sceaming in fear and pain. Do not try to have fun at the expense of these poor animals just because they cannot complain about your cruelty.

Those of you who have pets will have to pay extra attention about the whereabouts of them because otherwise they could run away in fear for the deafening sound of crackers that will fill the air at midnight on December 31.Most cats and dogs cannot bear the sound of crackers and sky rockets so it is best to ensure they are in a safe place before the celebrations start.Do not leave room for regrets.