School events to improve unity, harmony among students vital

by Ananda Kannangara

The Education Ministry last week highlighted the importance of organising group events among students of different schools to improve their unity and harmony.

The Education Ministry made these remarks following some minor incidents between a group of senior students of two leading boys' schools in Colombo recently.

The incidents had later aggravated, resulting in several students receiving minor injuries. The Education Department had to close down several senior classes of both schools for four days.Referring to the incident, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardane urged teachers and parents to use all resources to create unity among children, by organising social, cultural, religious and sporting events where they could get together and engage in team work.

He said children should be moulded to become good citizens from a tender age by giving them a good education and encouraging them to get involved in extra-curricular and co-curricular activities.

Minister Gunawardane said if such social events are organised between schools often, incidents of this nature would not take place.

The Minister said at least from now on, school authorities should organise events that would help children to work together under one roof irrespective of caste, creed and religion.

Meanwhile, the Principals and senior teachers of Royal and Thurstan Colleges last week summoned urgent meetings at their schools and explained to students and parents the gravity of the situation that had occurred.

Principals, Upali Gunasekara of Royal College and Y.N.D.A. Yapa of Thurstan College also decided to deploy groups of parents and prefects outside school premises immediately after school sessions for several days to prevent further incidents.