Restructuring the school system

The government is exploring the possibility of restructuring the island's school system along with the admission of students to schools, to overcome the malpractices and difficulties currently prevailing in the education sector.

A committee of intellectuals will be appointed to study these issues and come out with a programme to streamline the education sector, from 2009 onwards.

A Cabinet memorandum in this regard has been submitted by Education Minister Susil Premajayantha.

Education is a prime requirement for all development and should be offered on an equal basis to all. The need to restructure education for better gains has been highlighted in the Minister's memorandum. He has pointed out that 260 rural schools were closed down between the period 2000 to 2005, due to unpopularity, with parents reluctant to admit their children to these less affluent schools in rural areas.

The Minister also cited a recent report released by the Diabetes Society, which said that about 15 per cent of 10-15-year-olds of school going age are today suffering from diabetes.

Such sicknesses have been attributed to irregular eating habits, lack of exercise and mental trauma due to heavy competition in the education sector. This situation is the result of the prevailing structure regarding school curricula, admission methods, school classification and unequal facilities.

Graphene sensors detect toxic gases

British researchers have developed sensors that are capable of detecting just a single molecule of a toxic gas.

The University of Manchester scientists said their graphene-based devices might eventually be used to detect hidden explosives at airports and carbon monoxide in homes.

Three years ago, Manchester scientists discovered graphene - a one-atom thick gauze of carbon that is the world's thinnest known material. Now the same researchers, led by Kostya Novoselov and Professor Andre Geim, have determined that graphene is extremely sensitive to the presence of minute (tiny) amounts of gases.

"This level of sensitivity is typically millions of times higher than for any other gas detector demonstrated before," said Novoselov. "Graphene sensors are as sensitive as sensors can be in principle."

The research, conducted in collaboration with scientists at the Institute for Microelectronics Technology in Russia and the Institute for Molecules and Materials at the University of Nijmegen in the Netherlands, is reported in the journal Nature Materials.

United Press International

Children Skills Development Programme presents recognition awards

by Aravinda Dassanayake

Today's children are the ones who will be leading our motherland tomorrow. It is important to recognise their inborn talents and encourage them to perform at their finest level.

Fortunately, there are numerous programmes within the country, geared towards this cause, and the most recent event was the Global Children's Day 2007 Celebrations organised by the Children Skills Development Programme (CSDP).

This spectacular event was held on October 14, from 1.00 p.m. onwards at the Young Men's Buddhist Association, Borella, where 50 children from all parts of the island belonging to all races were rewarded for their excellence in various disciplines.

Furthermore, certificates were awarded for winners selected from eleven events held at national level under three age categories.

Special awards were also given to personnel for their excellent service towards the development of skills of children. The Junior Observer too was recognised at this programme. Among the recipients of awards was Gethmi Nihara Liyanage, the popular child singer.

The award ceremony was preceded by the stage drama 'Hangimuththo Hangiyo', performed by the students who followed drama training organised by the CSDP. The event was made glamorous by creative and talented displays of singing, dancing and drama.

As revealed by Rathna Pushpa Kumari, Media and Programme Directress of the Children Skills Development Programme, they have been in operation for eleven years enhancing the skills of the younger generation of the country.

As at now, it has a membership of over 130,000 children, and it is impressive how this movement operates purely on the funding of parents without relying on any non-governmental funding.

'Taking part in these competitions, courageously, was a victory by itself, was the message strongly conveyed by her to the children who would get disheartened if not successful in being placed in the first three positions.

Following are the special awards presented to individuals for their contributions towards the development of child skills.

* Dr. Jayantha de Silva, Minister of the Provincial Council
* Maryanne Perera, Editor, Junior Observer
* Chathurani Abeysundara, Senior Journalist of Derana.
* Padmasiri Fernando, Senior Journalist of SLRC
* Nalini Dharmaratne, Senior Journalist of SLRC
* Mahinda Nissanka, Senior Journalist of Lankadeepa
* Mahesh Pradeep, Senior Journalist of Sirasa TV
* K. Premachandra, Senior Journalist of Mihira
* Hasitha Gunaratne, Senior Journalist of SLBC
* Visharada Dharshana Ratnayake
* Visharada Dimuthu Nanayakkara
* Musician Krishantha Weerakkodi
* Musician Anura Palihawadana
* Child Singer, Gethmi Nihara Liyanage.

Disarmament Week from October 24 to 30

A war is currently raging in Sri Lanka. As a result, many people have died, many others have lost their families, their properties and everything else they owned, and the country is losing billions of rupees which might otherwise have been used to propel growth and development.

This is not a unique situation to Sri Lanka. Many countries are in the same position, fighting forces within and outside their territories. As a result, the number of weapons in circulation have gone up.

Not only that, the weapons are also becoming more sophisticated and dangerous by the day. These weapons are used not only by a country's legal military forces, but they also fall into the hands of terrorists, criminals and others.

The proliferation (increase) of arms is a problem we encounter in our own country, with senseless killings almost on a daily basis. It's in this context that the word 'disarmament' holds special significance.

Disarmament means getting rid of or reducing the number of arms (weapons) in a country. The annual observance of Disarmament Week, from October 24 to 30, begins on the anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. The Week calls on States to highlight the danger of the arms race, communicate the need for its cessation (ending) and increase public understanding of the urgent tasks of disarmament.

Arms control and disarmament issues have always been important for the UN. In 1995, the General Assembly invited governments as well as non-governmental organisations to continue taking an active part in the Disarmament Week.

Through the Disarmament Week, the world body strives to make the world a progressively safer place for all of us.

A scary and fun-filled day

Halloween may be a new concept in Sri Lanka, but it's slowly taking root, judging by the many Halloween parties and other related events being held, though yet confined to the main cities.

It is a holiday celebrated on the night of October 31 in western countries such as Ireland, United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, United Kingdom and sometimes in Australia and New Zealand. In recent years, it has spread to various other parts of Western Europe.

Halloween originated from the Samhain festival, celebrated by the Celts of Ireland and Great Britain. Irish and Scottish immigrants carried the tradition to North America in the nineteenth century, while it spread to other western countries in the late twentieth century.

The name Halloween has come from All-hallow-even, as it is the evening of/before 'All Hallows' Day' or 'All Saints' Day'. It was a day of religious festivities in various northern European traditions, until Popes Gregory III and Gregory IV moved the old Christian feast of All Saints' Day from May 13 to November 1.

Although All Saints' (Hallows') Day is now considered to occur a day after Halloween, those days, both holidays were celebrated on the same day.

Many European traditions believe that Halloween is one of the times of the year when spirits can make contact with the physical world, and when magic is most strong.

Traditional activities include trick-or-treating, Halloween festivals, bonfires, costume parties, visiting 'haunted houses', viewing horror films and going on haunted rides.