The good, the bad and the ugly

International schools under scrutiny:

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

Education authorities have expressed concern about the quality of education dished out in some international schools being well below par. The authorities are aware that not all international schools fall into this category. However the mushrooming of international schools in the island has led one to believe that they are being set up more as a money-making venture than to provide education.

"Regularising international schools has been given priority" Minister of Education, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam

There is mixed opinion with regard to the quality of education provided in international schools, with one segment defending the schools and another while others were vehement in their objections saying education provided in some of these schools are left to be desired. Some international schools do not have qualified teachers and employ school leavers paying them a pittance.

Among the many education reforms taking shape, the regularising international schools has been given priority, according to the Minister of Education, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam.

The increasing number of students seeking admission to international schools is not confined to a particular class of students anymore.

The difficulty to enroll a child in a state school of their choice has led to this situation.

"The new regularizing mechanism we intend to bring will not be a blow to international schools. It is solely to deliver a better education for the increasing number of students attending these schools," said Minister Kariyawasam.

A committee has been appointed by the Education Minister in this regard.

The committee comprises academics in the education sector, parents of international school students, owners of international schools and ministry officials headed by the Secretary to the Ministry, said Minister Kariyawasam.

The Ministry will pay attention to the curriculum followed by international schools, the quality of teachers, laboratory facilities, adequate space and availability of hygienic and sanitary facilities.

It recommends issuing an annual license considering these facts.

The committee held two rounds of discussions and is now in the process of collecting data from international schools countrywide.

The facts sent by international schools will be scrutinized by the committee and a decision will be taken after a careful study is made regarding unsuitable international schools whose facilities do not match the criterion set out by the ministry.

The Ministry was targeting only international schools he said. Meanwhile, there was no decision as to whether the registration process would also be changed. These institutions were registered under the Board Of Investment(BOI).

The education sector is governed by the Education Ordinance no 31 of 1930. Under the the Ordinance it was clearly stated that it was only the government could establish schools to educate children aged 5, 17, 14. In another sentence of the same Ordinance it is stated that the Education Ministry can approve to start schools for children below 18 years of age.

Registering international schools with the BOI was to circumvent the rules laid down in the Education Ordinance. However, the lack of a proper mechanism to rope in the culprits has enabled international schools to mushroom without providing quality education.

Dr. Harsha Alles - Chairman of International Schools of Sri Lanka

Sunil Jayathissa - Sussex Educational Services Limited

J.M.U.B. Jayasekara - Senior Vice President of the Association of International Schools in Sri Lanka Inc.

Education Ministry sources said that there were several complaints regarding the poor quality of education in some international schools and as pledged during the election campaign of President Maithripala Sirisena, the new regulations will come into effect."This is a long outstanding need in the country," said Sunil Jayathissa of Sussex Educational Services Limited which ran the Sussex College network.

Trust

Jayathissa said the lack of political will of the previous government to take this decision, which could have been done, has created loopholes for certain people to misuse the public's trust. "As people are aware of the importance of an English education, they enroll children in international schools in the belief that a certain standard of education will be given.

But just sticking to teaching a perticular subject and speaking in English was not the end all and be all of a good education.

Realising the clamour of parents, certain people open international schools without any standards and it becomes a blackmark on the industry. I believe that regularising international schools would definitely bring credit to the those who do a genuine job," said Jayasthissa.

Several other leading international schools voiced dismay over being kept in the dark of the Education Ministry's recent concern over international schools.

Chairman of International Schools of Sri Lanka, Dr. Harsha Alles, said they were not aware of what was happening as far as the Education Ministry was concerned and pointed out that if monitoring is needed, the authorities must clearly state what exactly has gone wrong in the education system in international schools.

"As for raising concerns now, I am unable to comment as we really do not know what is going on. When the previous government insisted on monitoring international schools, we cooperated. We were summoned to the National Education Commission headed by Prof. Lakshman Jayathilake as well as by the then Secretary to the Ministry and gave our point of view.

There were a series of discussions," said Dr. Alles, adding that it would be ideal if the present government would do that, "because we are doing this for the sake of Sri Lankan children".

"We have around 25 members in our association - the International Schools of Sri Lanka - and we cater to about 40,000 children. When the previous government insisted on teaching the mother tongue and History, many international schools supported it, said, adding, Alles. "There are international schools of good standard and those which are substandard. All international schools should not be dealt with in the same manner," he said.

Perception

He also said there was a wrong perception regarding international schools, particularly on issues such as discipline but it is not fair. "What about incidents that take place in government schools during Big matches. this does not happen in international schools?".

" There was no assistance from the Government as far as international schools were concerned. We paid taxes, agreed to conditions set out by the government while going through difficulties in providing a reasonable education to the children,".

Dr Alles was insistent that the Education Ministry should take all of this into consideration before arriving at a decision.

Answering as to whether he would agree to be an integral part in establishing the new regularising mechanism under the Education Ministry, Dr. Alles said "yes we would definitely be. But we clearly need to be aware what has really gone wrong." he said.

Senior Vice President of the Association of International Schools in Sri Lanka Inc. J.M.U.B. Jayasekara - Managing Director and Group Principal of the JMC College International agreeing with the current move of the Education Ministry said that the authorities have not given a chance for international schools that follow the Sri Lankan education policy to voice their opinion.

"The majority of schools in our Association follow the local curriculum. We buy text books from the Ministry.

We prevent local currency going out of the country." he said.. The Association of International Schools in Sri Lanka Inc. has 46 schools in its member list and covers many international schools established countrywide.

"We believe that this is a good move by the Government because schools, be it Government, private or international, educate Sri Lankan children, so it needs to be streamlined," he added.

-------

As people are aware of the importance of an English education, they enroll children in international schools in the belief that a certain standard of education will be given

Sunil Jayathissa - Sussex Educational Services Limited

********

There are international schools of good standard and those which are substandard.

All international schools should not be dealt with in the same manner

Dr. Harsha Alles - Chairman of International Schools of Sri Lanka

********

The authorities have not given a chance for international schools that follow the Sri Lankan education policy to voice their opinion

J.M.U.B. Jayasekara - Senior Vice President of the Association of International Schools in Sri Lanka Inc.

***********