Sunday Observer EXTRA

The School for the Blind:

A century of moulding useful citizens

By Ananda KANNAGARA

People who pass through the Ratmalana Junction on Galle Road daily see yellow coloured sign boards which display an important message “Blind School Ahead- Drive Carefully”.

The boards are installed opposite of the School for the Blind at Ratmalana.

In an interview with the Sunday Observer, Principal of the School for the Blind, Sandya Kodduruarachchi said she was prompted to install the boards to warn motorists to be diligent and pay attention to the valuable lives of the blind children who cross the Galle Road during peak hours in the mornings and afternoons.

“After installing these sign boards our children are very happy as they could easily cross the road with the help of their white canes without any risk to their lives,”.

She said her next attempt was to urge authorities to construct a permanent overhead bridge across the Galle Road in front of the school, so that students could easily cross the road without risk.

According to Kodduruarachchi, this matter has already been directed to the Road Development Authority, the Highways Department and also to the Human Rights Commission.

A past pupil of St. Joseph’s College, Grandpass, Kodduruarachchi is blessed with two daughters. She graduated from Kelaniya University on Special Education.

Normal people

Blind students playing musical instruments

As the Principal of the School for the Blind, her objective is to help students by improving their educational, sports and social activities to help them to live with other normal people in society. `The School for the Blind’ was established during the colonial era of 1912 by an English missionary Mary Chapman.

The school is 99 years old and its 100 th anniversary will be celebrated next year under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa.The Principal also highlighted the visit of First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa at a religious ceremony conducted at the school premises last Poson Poya and said the visit of the First Lady was a strength to the students of the school.

According to Kodduruarachchi, 200 blind students presently study in the school with the majority of them residing in the school hostel. Thirty are day-scholars.

Their parents or guardians take them to their homes after school.

All educational facilities, accommodation, food and lodging are provided for them free of charge. Classes are conducted up to the GCE (OL) Examination.

There are 30 teachers on the staff and 27 of them are Approved staff, while the other three are Board staff.

The school management find normal schools for blind children who successfully complete the GCE (OL) examination. A number of blind students are currently perusing higher studies at several leading schools in the country including Ladies College, Colombo, Mahanama Vidayalaya, Kollupitiya, Princess of Wales College, Moratuwa, Athulathmudali Maha Vidyalaya, Ratmalana, Talduwa Buddhist School, Avissawella, Tolangamuwa Maha Vidyalaya, Mahinda Maha Vidyalaya, Alubomulla and Poramadulla Vidyalaya.

Higher studies

“Some of our students are also perusing higher studies at universities and many others have found employment in Government and private institutions”.

In addition to normal educational activities, the low vision students are also assisted with computer aid facilities such as magnifiers to go through their lessons in enlarged print.

Those who are in Advanced Level classes have been provided with braille writers. All books are done in Braille in Sinhala and English.

Blind students are also assisted with vocational training such as rattan weaving with synthetic and cane, coir work, ornamental work including flower making, bag making, key tag, chain and bangle making.

Students in the School for the Blind are also given an opportunity to improve their religious education at nearby temples, dhamma schools, Sunday schools, churches and Hindu Kovils.

The school also opened an Early Intervention Centre recently with the assistance of visiting educational specialists from Perkins for the benefit of teachers. A little `Tuck Shop’ was opened to help blind children to get involved in selling small items.

The principal said that blind students are also given the opportunity to improve their sports skills and other talents. Many students take part in cricket and other sports.

Principal Kodduruarachchi also highlighted the invaluable service rendered by the Principal of the School for the Deaf, Hemamali Bibile and also the services of Vice Principals of the Blind School Kumudini Wickramasiri and Surani Fernando.

Needs help

Vice Principal, School for the Blind, Kumudini Wickramasiri said she was blind by birth. She had her early education up to the GCE (OL) at the School for the Blind Ratmalana and thereafter entered Girl’s High School, Kandy for her Advanced Level.

She entered the Peradeniya University in 1981 and joined the staff of the Ratmalana School for the Blind as a teacher in 1987.

Kodduruarachchi said the School for the Blind needs the help of people to purchase instruments for the school western band, the oriental band, costumes for the school dancing troupe, sports gear, a sound system for the school assembly hall, compact discs, head phones, DVD players and cassette players for the talking library.

She said in addition the school library needs braille paper sheets and medicines for the sick room.

She said she would be grateful for help in renovating the school swimming pool.

Interested persons could contact the Principal on 2634226 or 2626592 for more information.