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| Sunday, 26 March 2006 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Project to facilitate formal primary education The Education Ministry will take measures to establish two standard Model Primary Schools in every urban area throughout the country. This will be done with the objective of facilitating formal primary education, which is a basic feature in the field of education.
This was stated by Education Minister Susil Premajayantha recently, at a school prize-giving which he attended as the chief guest. While regularising primary education, this will also help ease the problems associated with school admissions, the Minister said. A programme to revise and reform the Educational Divisions and Educational Regions are currently under way. The Ministry is also considering a proper system of classification for schools. The Minister said that he intends to evolve a comprehensive scheme of classification after consulting the relevant authorities, including educational officials of the eight provinces, within the next few months. It is largely believed that the method, which is currently in force, is not systematic and is difficult to understand. April Fool's Day: Time for fun and laughter Are you gearing up to play pranks on your friends and family, now that April Fool's Day is just around the corner? People around the world have fun at the expense of their friends and relatives on this day, which falls on April 1. Did you know that the practice of commemorating April Fool's Day started in France? The new year was celebrated, till then, on April 1. The King of France, in 1564, adopted the modern calendar, according to which the new year began on January 1. Some people, who didn't like the new date, continued to celebrate the new year on April 1, and came to be referred to as "April fools". Frenchmen used to exchange gifts with each other on April 1, as part of the new year celebrations. Despite the date being changed, they retained the custom of sending gifts on the day. However, the nature of the gifts changed to silly and worthless things. Some others believe that this day honours the return of spring. Foolish celebrations of a similar nature have been held in the old days to welcome spring. Now that you know how April Fool's Day originated, you can brush up on your jokes and get ready to make fools of your friends. However, the one thing you must bear in mind is to keep those jokes within the accepted limits, without causing grief and pain to those who may be the subject of your jokes. Importance of education stressed The importance of keeping every school in the education division of Mahiyangana running, was emphasised by Divisional Education Director of Mahiyangana, J.R. Heen Banda at an annual sports meet of a school in the area. He compared the closing of a school to opening a jail, and used this phrase to stress the value of educating the younger generation of the area. Education provides opportunities for each and every person to develop his or her talents and live a successful life, he said, and added that he would do everything in his capacity to provide free education to the needy in the Mahiyangana area. Although the parents of children in rural areas didn't consider educating their children as a worthwhile measure a few decades ago, the situation has now changed, and they have realised the importance of giving a proper education to their children. That is why state sector schools, which provide a free education to all
students, must be appreciated and protected, Heen Banda said.
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