Lanka's education system needs role models and not officers - Lionel Fernando

"The main difference between the education of today and the education of the past is the teachers were role models for the children to follow, they worked not for a mere salary, nor did they make money by giving tuition. What they had in their hearts was the welfare of the students. Rev. Fr. Berrewaerts, the founder of the Ampitiya College who was from a Royal family in Belgium who died fifty years ago is remembered today in a packed audience because this great teacher and educationist had only the welfare of the students at heart", observed Lionel Fernando when he made the keynote address as an old boy of Ampitiya College at the Rev. Fr. Berrewaerts' 50th death anniversary commemoration meeting held at the Fatima Retreat House, Lewella, Kandy recently.

The chief guest was Very Rev. Fr. Jeyraj Rasiah SJ, Provincial Jesuit.

Addressing further Lionel Fernando observed "that Rev. Fr. Berrewaerts who never returned to his motherland Belgium even once before his death gave his life to the school he built teaching the students and his staff not by lecturing but by living the role and by example. It was mostly the Buddhists and Hindus that made the best use of the school built by this Catholic priest and no attempt whatsoever was made to convert any of the children to Catholics".

The founder of the college had played many roles. He was the sweeper, the doctor, the band master, sickroom attendant, the worker in his tea garden, sports coach, librarian and the disciplinarian.

He loved all and he was loved by all. His motto "Love thy neighbour as thy self" was practised by him to the very letter.

Nimal Sedera addressing on behalf of the organizing committee said Rev. Fr. Berrewearts is a rare human specimen and his character has to be written and preserved for the use of the future generation. He said according to the stories gathered in making the booklet on the life of Fr. Berrewearts it was evident that he spent the simplest life and gave his time and wealth to serve the people.

Leo Kurukulaarachchi also spoke.