Under the microscope

Ministry of Education to monitor and regulate international schools:

by Husna Inayathullah

With the Ministry of Education deciding to monitor and register international schools to bring them directly under its purview international schools are back in the limelight and not too happy to be there, as being monitored by a Ministry is not something they want. However, Minister of Education, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam is determined to regulate international schools to improve the quality of education in these schools. He said regulations will include, better facilities for students. "We will supervise and monitor international schools.

ANCL file photo

At present most of these schools are registered as business entities under the Board Of Investment (BOI). We want to bring them under the Ministry of Education. We will decide the steps that should be taken to improve standards in international schools," he said.

The Minister said a committee comprising educationists, principals of international schools, teachers and parents will be nominated shortly and decisions to improve standards in these schools will then be decided. "We are trying to bring in a system like the one in Singapore. Training will be given to international school teachers. I am the person who urged that international schools should be regulated and should come under the purview of the Ministry of Education. I hope we will see a change in the standard in these schools at least in another five years. It is impossible to expect quick results. It will take time," he said.

Chairman of the Gateway Group of Organisations and Chairman of The International Schools of Sri Lanka (TISSL), Dr. Harsha Alles said there was no necessity to register international schools with the Ministry of Education. At present, he said that international schools have absolutely no support from the Ministry and that he will be happy as long as the Ministry supports them.

Discriminated

Dr Alles said his Association catered to more than 40,000 students and over 90 percent of the students were Sri Lankans. He said he did not agree with Government's stand to impose adhoc rules, regulations and standards but he said it could be done with team discussion.

The Ministry of Education should have a discussion with the Directors of international schools and come to a conclusion, he said.

Dr Alles said that it would be good to share views and ideas as a team. He also said that international school students were discriminated where sports was concerned.

They were not given the opportunity to take part in inter-school cricket and rugby matches. "These students should be permitted to take part in inter- school matches.

From Play Group to the Advance Level, we have absolutely no support and we run the schools on our own steam. It is pathetic that State Universities do not accommodate International School students but allocate five percent for students from abroad such as Nepal and Pakistan to State Universities.

The Government should understand that this is unfair as International School students also belong to Sri Lanka. They should also be given the opportunity to enter State Universities. It is a pity that International School student end up going abroad to pursue higher studies which is also a drain on our foreign exchange," he said.

On one occasion Directors of international schools met members of the National Education Commission and the Secretary of Education and the problem of some international schools not teaching the mother tongue, History and Religion were discussed. Thereafter, schools which did not teach these subjects began teaching these subjects. He said through discussion issues could be solved. "The Government imposing rules on us is good if we do not follow them.

"Our Association has its own set of standards which are strictly adhered to. Today most children find it difficult to enter State schools, because of the stringent entry requirements. Once they are rejected , these children then opt for international schools," he said. As for recruiting teachers he said, "We always recruit graduate teachers for the Upper Secondary classes and government trained teachers for the Lower classes. Graduates and Diploma holders are recruited to teach the primary classes," he said. A parent of a grade 10 student from a leading International School in Colombo who wished remain anonymous said that all her children studied at international schools and today they were holding good positions in the private sector. She was happy that her youngest child was also studying in a leading International School in Colombo.

English Language

As far as she was concerned, she said she was content with the system of education adopted in international schools. She said the knowledge of the English language was extremely good and her children who passed out from international schools were in good jobs now.

Her contention was that when it came to the job market in the private sector, international school students stood a very good chance because of the exposure to extra curricular activities and the knowledge of English. She said most government school students got good results but were poor in the English language and as a result did not get good jobs. They are way behind when it comes to the job market and said that today English was very important to secure a decent job. "It is pathetic that even graduates and people in high posts in the state sector could not converse in English and lacked even the basic understanding of the language.

"There is nothing wrong in the international school system and if the standards could be further improved, I would be happy. Teachers do a good job and it is in the hands of the children to perform well. A child who learns will learn wherever he or she goes. I am happy about the international school system as a parent who has the experience of sending my children to these schools," she said.

A teacher from a leading international school in Kandy who also wished to remain anonymous fearing repercussions if he was identified said that at present he had more than nine years experience teaching in international schools.

He taught History, Literature and Language for the Upper Secondary and Advance Level classes. "One of the oldest international schools in Kandy in which I studied and then taught was registered under the Ministry of Education and we got circulars too, but the sad part is though it was registered, we did not get teacher guides, examination papers and text books from the government when the syllabus was changed. It was difficult to conduct lessons according to the new syllabus until we got the books.

It was after the end of the first term examinations that our children got the new text books. The text books which were provided to us were books that remained after distribution to government schools. It is unfair and we are having a hard time," he said."It was a constant case of reminding the Ministry to provide books and then it was given to us much later than the state schools. If the government is to impose regulations, the Ministry of Education should monitor it properly. I think some International Schools do not have laboratoriess, libraries and sports facilities.

Teacher

I also suggest that international school teachers should be trained by the State. Training is conducted free of charge for government school teachers, international school teachers should also be updated and given a training which is important. There are no resource persons to guide us. What the government is trying to do is good and my question is how effective it would be. Today, not all international schools are business oriented. This concept should be changed," he said.

Nifraz Mohamed, a Grade Eleven student from an international school in Kandy, said that they have plenty of freedom compared to government schools. Teachers and students have a cordial relationship.

Teachers were kind and understood students well. He said that since numbers were small in international schools, teachers had a good rapport with students and could individual attention to weak students. "We respect our teachers because we love them.

They are strict but friendly. Most of the teachers in government schools are graduates or trained teachers but unfortunately that is not found in our schools. Even though, teachers were not graduates, they still had the talent and skill to teach," he said.