Aviation in school curriculum

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayarathne has called upon the educational authorities to introduce aviation as a subject and later for a degree in the university curriculum.

According to Minister Jayaratne Sri Lanka lacks experts in the aviation industry and now it has become necessary to produce local experts to ease future demand.

"Aviation has become a special subject in school curriculum in many developing countries and it is time Sri Lankan educationists too introduce this as a school subject to enable students to acquire a sound knowledge in aviation from their tender age".

Referring to the Ministry's newly launched website `Guwansara', Minister Jayarathne said that unlike in the past, there is trmendous development in the country's aviation sector."The Government has taken steps to upgrade the countrywide airports and runways to facilitate landing of all types of aircraft in the future. In addition the Government has also planned to open an new international airport at Maththala and thereby increase the number of destinations across the globe.The Minister said the objective of launching the website was to familiarise students on the travel and aviation.

He further said experts on aviation will have to play a big role in the years to come and therefore the educational authorities should focus attention to start educating children on aviation. Minister Jayarathne said he has already proposed a degree course in aviation to the Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake with the objective of starting it as early as possible and also to stop Sri Lankan youth from seeking higher education in aviation abroad.