More educational facilities for Northern children

by P. Krishnaswamy

Discussions on Friday with Minister of Education Bandula Gunawardena on appointments for existing vacancies in the education sector of the Northern province were successful, Governor Maj.Gen.G.A.Chandrasiri told the Sunday Observer.

This was part of the measures of the provincial administration, under directions from President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to provide unhindered educational facilities to the Northern children who were deprived of proper education due to the long-drawn-out war, he said.

The Presidential Task Force for the Development of the Northern Province headed by Minister Basil Rajapaksa has also taken steps towards initiating the sector agencies, including the provincial and central education departments, to work together to reactivate and fully restore educational services to the Northern province, he said. At the meeting which was also participated by Minister Douglas Devananda, the Education Minister agreed to the appointment of 130 Sri Lanka Educational Administrative Service Officers (SLEAS), nine SLAcct.S officers and five SLEng.S officers against existing vacancies and also to appoint 900 volunteer teachers who are teaching IDP students at the Menik Farm welfare centres.

These appointments will be finalised very soon, the Governor said, adding that, it was pointed out to Minister Gunawardena that due to delay in appointments to the vacancies in the managerial level the smooth functioning of the education sector was affected.

The matter relating to re-starting the Vavuniya National College of Education in the context of the urgent need for training teachers to teach science, mathamatics, English, social studies and special education was discussed. As a result steps will be taken soon to restart the College of Education, the Governor said.

Cabinet papers have been submitted to the Minister of Education for the appointment of 900 volunteer teachers. The question of appointing subject-wise teachers to teach science, mathamatics, English and Social Science was also taken up for discussion and the Minister of Education agreed to consider that request favourably, the Governor said.

Other matters including absorption of Provincial schools as National Schools. constructions of sports schools, computer resource centres and providing more facilities to 25 schools in the province to go ahead with the NANASA TV program under the auspices of the Dialog Company were also discussed with salutary results, the Governor said.