Yeoman service in education

by Lakmal Welabada

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Mrs. Nita Pilapitiya, perhaps the senior- most Principal at the helm of affairs at present. After serving many schools and the education sector for many decades, Mrs. Pilapitiya has stretched out her wings to bring Musaeus girls under her, since 1995.

Her experience in serving in the education field for 52 years and as Principal for 32 years at main leading schools, Navarath Kumari Pilapitiya nee Tennakoon has many things to recall to us all. Nita was her nick name which later was accepted by all.

“During our time when we were children, we didn’t have distractions like TV, FM radios, computers, CDs and the Internet; and also the fast life like the tuition.”

“If one had to go for tuition, only was if the person is weak in a subject. But, nowadays it is quite different. Today’s parents think tuition is compulsory and send their children for all the subjects, whether the child is weak or not.

It is a burden on the child, and tends to limit the time for leisure, for playing and enjoying the childhood. With this rat race, all what they would remember about their childhood is, seated at a desk taking lessons,” she says.

Nita Pilapitiya reminisces with pleasure the fabulous childhood of her time, which is like dream story for today’s children. Nita was born on June 22, 1932 to a respected Kandyan family in Ukuwela, Matale.

Tikiri Bandara Tennakoon, Additional Registrar of Lands and Somawathi Kumarihamy Ekanayaka were her parents, with Nita being the eldest in a family of two brothers and two sisters. She had her education upto Senior School Certificate (SSC) at St. Agne’s Convent (which is 125 years old) in Matale.

“I started schooling when I was very young. So, I was just turned 15 when I sat for my SSC, and mind you I was the youngest in the class as well throughout,” she recalls. Nita entered Musaeus College, Colombo for her High School Certificate (HSC) in 1948, for which she became the Principal after 47 years. Mrs. Clara Motwani was the Principal during her time.

Nita excelled both in her studies as well as in extra curricular activities. She was a Prefect and the House Captain of `Agnes House’ while at St. Agne’s. Her family background was conservative but Nita’s father despite disapprovals from her close relatives decided to give his daughters the best education.

“My father was a guiding light to me, and inspired all of us to study hard as he realised the value of the education,” she recalls.

Nita was in the first B.A. degree batch at the University of Peradeniya. “My father was from Bowala, and part of his property was also taken over for expansion of the Peradeniya University. So, he was determined that I should enter the university for higher studies.

February 4 of 1949 was a historical year for Musaeus girls as their group was selected to sing the National Anthem at the first anniversary celebration of Independence. Nita was one among them.

“I still remember taking part on the occasion wearing a `Lama saree’ . Actually, since I was 9, I have been wearing `Lama saree’. Though some wore frocks to school, I continued to wear it even at Musaeus. We were allowed to wear as we pleased. We even played netball and tennis in our `Lama saree’. A wrap around of 4-5 yards did not deter us. I was also a Prefect at Musaeus , and was a member of the Geography Society and the debating team,” she remembers.

At St. Agne’s, Nita was under strict supervision of Catholic nuns and whereas at Musaeus, it was a conservative Buddhist background. She entered the University of Peradeniya which was a residential one, those days.

“We had a very carefree life. But, since being it was my father’s village and a known area, I restricted my tours. The four-year degree course taught us many things. We used to have formal dinners and on occasions, we had to dress up and put our hair up. Peradeniya was a well-maintained and beautiful place,” she reminisces.

Nita passed out with Geography (Honours), and got her first appointment at St. Anthony’s Boys’ College, Kandy. She was put in-charge of the `SSC Repeats’. She stayed there for one year.

Since it was a State assisted school, Nita thought of getting herself into the Government teaching service and so she joined Walala Central, Kandy. After completing her Diploma in Education at the University of Peradeniya, Nita got an appointment at Nagoda Maha Vidyalaya, Ukuwela which was closer to her place.

She was teaching at Mahamaya Balika Maha Vidyalaya, Kandy in 1961, when she tied the nuptials with Social Service Officer, Asoka Bandara Pilapitiya the same year. And at the same time, she got a transfer to Kalutara Balika. “I served at Maliyadeva Balika Maha Vidyalaya in 1963, and after my second child, I returned to Nagolla Maha Vidyalaya, Ukuwela and served there from 1964 to 1968,” she says.

In 1968, Nita got an appointment at the Baptist Mission School (BMS) in Matale (now known as Sanghamitta Balika Maha Vidyalaya).

“An English lady, Mrs. Vera Armond was the Principal of the BMS, who made me the Vice Principal. Under her guidance, I learnt a lot and it was indeed, a good training for me,” says Nita. When they completed their own house, Nita moved to Kandy in 1971. By this time, Nita had already obtained the Grade 1 - Special, which entitled her a post of a Deputy Principal, which she did at Senkada Maha Vidyalaya. She got her first appointment as Principal at St.Anthony’s Girls’ School, Kandy in 1973.

In 1990, she was appointed Additional Provincial Director of Education of Central Province (CP), and later became the Provincial Director in 1993. “I retired from Government service in 1994, and took over Musaeus College as Principal the following year.”

A career span of 52 years, with being a Principal for 32 years of three leading schools; St. Anthony’s Girls School, Mahamaya Balika and Musaeus College, all of them flourished under her wings. After so many years of service, Nita looks back with contentment.

“As I stated earlier, we had less burden, and had time to mingle with other children. Our parents and elders provided us with a well secured environment, and allowed us to mix with others. We had extended families, and we grew up together with cousins. But, today’s children are restricted only to a confined frame of society. Some parents are scared to send the child even to the neighbour’s. Change in norms and values of the society must also be another reason for that,” says Nita. Nita also admits that the school curriculum needs a facelift.

“During our time, we learnt sewing and other things like needlework and so on. Even now, I make my own dresses. We learnt to make sweet meats, and were made to help out in the house chores though we had servants at hand. We learnt to share both the resources and duties without a grumble. Today’s fixed curriculum does not provide enough allowance of that sort for today’s children,” says Nita.

The competition in today’s society leads children to a higher level of depression. Nita points out that more than the children it is the parents who have fallen into this abyss. “Everything has been changing along with global restyling..,” points out Nita.

“Some parents tend to neglect their children as they have to concentrate on economical aspect. This leads the children to nowhere. Some become over protective, might lead them to feel in secure which wherever they have to face life alone.

They will encounter serious problems as they won’t know how to handle life. Today’s children don’t respect parents, elders or teachers. We should teach children not to forget the correct values and attitude towards people and society, and however much higher they might grow in life or in their career, they should be able to keep their feet firm on the ground. Self-discipline is the most important thing,” she emphasised.

Providing a refined education based on traditions and culture for Buddhist girls was the vision of Mary Musaeus, the founder of Musaeus College, which was started in Sri Lanka with 12 children on the roll in 1891.

Following these basics of the founder, Nita Pilapitiya, the Principal was able to maintain and inculcate the old norms of life and culture through generations at the Musaeus so far. “Teachers should be able to win the respect of the children.

If you are a good teacher, you’ll have a command over them.

I’m very happy that whenever I go abroad, I am certain to meet at least three or four students of mine, from the three schools I had taught. One must look at teaching as a service and not as a vacation,” she says. And her final message, Nita Pilapitiya wound up by saying “Children, whatever you do, do it well with a sincerity of purpose, honestly and with commitment to achieve your goals.

Be respectful, kind, sensitive to others, even to the nature.

For parents: bring up your children to be a blessing to this country by teaching them to be citizens with consideration for others, unselfish, courteous with good manners and who would respect traditions and customs by not forgetting their identity as Sri Lankans.”