A better education system for future generations, my goal - Mohan Lal Grero

By Shanika SRIYANANDA

‘Changing colours’, be it for perks or posts, has been a common phenomenon among Sri Lankan politicians, but this trend marked a new precedent with more crossovers from the Opposition UNP heavyweights to the ruling UPFA during the past few years.

The latest and much talked about crossover was by popular educationist Mohan Lal Grero, who had announced his departure from the UNP, which is now full of internal rifts, after a stint of one and a half years as an Opposition MP, in a sudden move at the budget voting, last week. He displayed a colourful drawing of a Grade four student, who said how beautiful the world would be if there was one colour, in Parliament. Making an emotional speech, he said it was time to shed all differences and colours to get united to strive for a common goal – to make the country a better place for the future generation.

“Neither the Government nor any individual didn’t influence me to make this move. This is my own decision as I am craving to do my best for the education system of my motherland before I retire from politics”, Parliamentarian Grero, who countered the rumours about his crossover, said in an interview with the Sunday Observer.

He said he would leave aside all his engagements – mainly religious and charitable - and devote his full time before he reaches 60 and before he bids adieu to politics, to realise his much valued dream - implementing the National Education Policy.

“Once I realise my dream, I have plans to devote my life to religious activities. Until then, I will strive to achieve my dream. I am very confident I will be able to achieve this dream under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who has already included very comprehensive proposals to upgrade the education of this country ”, the soft-spoken veteran educationist said, adding that he is ready to face the repercussions, including mud-slinging, from those who are hurt by his crossover.

Following are excerpts of the interview:

Q: At an unexpected moment, you crossed over to the Government. Are there any specific reasons for your move?

A: I entered politics with the intention of improving the education system of this country. With my experience and knowledge, I thought I could do it. In 2004, the then Education Minister Prof. Karunasena Kodituwakku proposed my name and nominated me to contest the Parliamentary Election, but I lost the opportunity. In 2010, when I got elected to the legislature on the UNP ticket, I was selected to be a member of the Special Committee on Education, which conducted 25 sessions for the last one and a half years, where we discussed the education system with many eminent personalities, educationists and many others who represent the education field.

We submitted several proposals out of the 700 proposed by those who took part in the discussions. They addressed almost all aspects of education. From these proposals we could formulate a comprehensive and productive national education policy.

Formulating a proper education policy, to see our future generations derive its benefits is my dream. However, I felt that my dream will not come into reality if I remain in the Opposition. I thought of actively taking part in formulating the policy to realise my dream.

Q: Are you implying that the UNP will not come into power in the near future?

A: Well, first of all, they have to be united and re-organise the party from the bottom up, but according to the prevailing situation, it will be a difficult task for the UNP to do that. However, if they do it properly, there are chances for the UNP to come back into power.

Education Policy

Q: Were you at any point dissatisfied with the UNP leadership?

A: In 2005, before the Presidential election, I was told by Bandula Gunawardena that the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had requested me to draft the National Policy on Education to be implemented as the UNP’s National Policy on Education. I drafted it with the assistance of many other reputed educationists including Prof. Lakshman Jayatilake and Prof. Roland Abeypala. We took months and prepared a comprehensive policy.

In the UNP manifesto for the Presidential election there was nothing I had submitted, but there was a totally different set of proposals on education.

I was disheartened, but thought it would have happened as I was still very new to politics and as the UNP leader had a better vision on education than me, so I kept quiet, but I remained dissatistified. After 2005, when this government came into power and Susil Premajayantha was appointed Minister of Education, I met him and handed over my proposals to him. He appreciated it a lot. However, later I realised that the proposals submitted by the committee headed by Dr. G.B. Gunawardena with the guidance of veteran educationists in Sri Lanka are very similar to my proposals and I felt quite happy. I now want to be a part of the team to implement them, to provide a better education system for our country.

However, the UNP leader treated me well and guided me and I can’t really say that I am dissatisfied with the leadership.

Q: With all these explanations, don’t you think that it is still unfair for you to abandon the party that brought you into Parliament at this crucial juncture, when the UNP is in the doldrums?

A: When I was contesting the election, the focus of my manifesto throughout the polls campaign were my proposals to upgrade the education system of this country. I requested those who have an interest in that to give me a mandate, to support and help the students of this country. They voted for me to see that I bring about a change in the country’s education system. They all requested me to do so as education was deteriorating day by day. In my opinion, it is my duty to keep the promise I made to my voters. Also, when I see the new education reforms and the emerging Act on Education, I felt the need for joining the Government and be a part of it to achieve my goal. I was thoroughly convinced that I should join the Government.

I know there would be lots of mud-slinging; people would say that I am a person without any principles but when I consider all aspects of me crossing over to the Government, the most important for me is that I can contribute to change the present education system in this country. Over four million children need a change in their education system to have a secure future. Therefore, I think facing any challenge or tolerating mud-slinging is easy when I think of being able to realise my dream.

There is no other way that I can achieve my goal.

Now I am 56 years old and my plans are to retire from politics when I reach 60 and engage more in religious activities. I have been in politics for over eight years, yet I could not do anything for the development of the education sector. So I thought I have to grab this opportunity when the time comes and I see a light at the end of the tunnel now with the proposed policy on education, proposals for 2,000 secondary schools, which is one of the most important proposals, to upgrade 5,000 primary schools, new English and computing programs and many other important proposals.

Though some would consider me as an opportunist, I did it, not for any personal benefits, but mainly because I want to see a better education system in this country.

Q: Wasn’t there any influence or invitations from the Government for you to join Government ranks or was this decision solely taken by you?

A: To tell you the truth, many Government Parliamentarians invited me, saying it’s better for me to join the Government to share my expertise with the people. Other than that, I didn’t face any influence or received an invitation to quit the UNP.

Minister of Education Bandula Gunawardena also inspired me to join the Government. He is a good friend of mine and we both entered the teaching profession in the same era. I taught Physics and he taught Economics, sometimes in the same hall. He later entered politics, but I rejected politics.

Many crossovers

Q: UNPers keep on crossing to the Government, which is on a strong footing. Why do you think this trend continues?

A: There is a conflict in the UNP which is no secret. They need to solve their internal problems and become united. This is very important. Until then, nothing will work out. They need to follow the UNP policies and the Constitution properly, which they have not done so far. Because of those factors, some of the senior UNPers are really dissatisfied with the party.

Q: Does this mean there are more to join the Government.

A: No, I can’t say that, but what I can say is many seniors of the party are not happy about the way things happen in the party, which had a glorious past and a sound reputation.

Q: The UNP has announced that it will take action against you. What is your comment?

A: I took this move as I had no other option to fulfil my dream. Under whatever circumstances, I had to do it and I know I will have to face the repercussions. Therefore, I will face any inquiry or disciplinary action against me. I am happy about my decision.

Q: We know that you presented the National Policy on Education to the UNP. As an educationist, how do you evaluate the present education system? What are its lapses and how can the Government find solutions?

A: There are many areas we have to look into. It needs to start from the enrolment of children in school. I think the grade five scholarship examination is a real burden on small children.

It puts a lot of stress and tension on small children who are yet to understand the world and it has destroyed their childhood. This needs to be changed and there is a proposal to abolish the Grade five scholarship examination and introduce it at Grade seven, when the children are more mature to face a competitive exam.

The number of school drop-outs after Ordinary Level and Advanced Level examinations is over 300,000. What are we going to do about this segment who have not mastered any skill-based training? There is a unique proposal to establish vocational training centres to give them training based on their skills before the children leave school.

These school drop-outs are in their adolescence; they are frustrated as they have no jobs. They are also reluctant to study further as they have a feeling that they are mature and not in a position to do studies.

There are so many vocational institutes in Sri Lanka, but when they call for applications from youth for training programs, there is a poor response. I think vocational training needs to begin while they are still in school or directed soon after they complete their studies.

Now the Ministry of Education has identified this lapse and I have also mentioned this factor in my proposals to the National Policy.

N-E schools

Q: The Government has given priority to upgrade the schools in the North and the East, which had poor facilities due to the conflict. What more needs to be done to provide more facilities for the children of these schools?

A: I think according to the proposed school upgrading in the proposals many problems faced by these schools will be solved. They can find solutions, especially infrastructure facilities such as space for schools. We have to identify three schools in each DS Division in the North and the East. Those schools - the secondary schools -will be provided with all facilities. This is a proposal for the entire country, but we have to start from the schools in the North and the East.

Each secondary school will have five satellite schools; primary schools which send children after Grade five to the secondary schools. The five satellite schools under each secondary school will also be developed with all facilities.

There are 327 DS Divisions in Sri Lanka and if we establish three secondary schools in each DS Division, it comes to about 1,000 secondary schools with all facilities. There will be 5,000 primary schools to send children to these secondary schools.

Q: You have already been appointed as the Monitoring MP for Education by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. How do you plan to work with the Government?

A: Yes. I am happy to be appointed Monitoring MP for Education and my task will be to monitor and support the program to upgrade 6,000 schools. I hope I can do my best in this sphere.

Q: There is a widespread rumour that you joined the Government as your education business was at risk, as the Government may have aquired it under the new Act, which came into effect a few weeks ago. Is there any truth in this rumour?

A: No. I completely reject that, and as you said, it is just a rumour.

There was nothing like that and as I said earlier it was my own decision to join the Government to be a part of the historical change. There is no reason for the Government to acquire my properties.

Q: Are you guaranteed a Ministerial post for your move?

A: No. Nothing was discussed and guaranteed. This was a sudden decision by me and even the Government was not aware of my decision. I am not expecting such posts or perks; what I expect from the Government is only to let me work towards my dream. What I really want is to work rather than getting perks and posts. My greatest satisfaction is to see that the country has a well designed National Education Policy before I retire from politics. I will give my heart and soul to achieve that. Whether I am given a Ministerial post or not, I will work with Minister Gunawardena whom I have known for decades. He is happy that I joined him and is very supportive. He sees me joining him as a very positive move to work towards the goal which we both strive for.

Q: One major burden for schoolchildren is tuition, which have made them into machines from a tender age. Do you have any plans to tackle this issue?

A: Yes, I agree that tuition is a huge burden for children and is a result of the competition which starts while they are in Grade two as they have to face the scholarship examination in Grade five. The main objective is to enter a good school. I strongly believe that this competition will be over once we establish secondary schools islandwide. The parents would also realise that there is no competition for a good school as there are three good schools in their areas. I think the Grade five examination would not be required thereafter. Once this system comes into effect, the Grade five scholarship examination will be abolished. For a financial grant for underprivileged, talented students, we propose the scholarship examination at Grade seven when the child is more mature.

I think, according to what I proposed, the vocational training programs will give students confidence about their future and they will be out of the competition.

We will also address the shortage of teachers, which also resulted in more children seeking tuition. We are to train more teachers at Teacher Training Schools.

International schools

Q: International schools are mushrooming in the country and most of them come under BoI projects as business establishments and have poor quality education systems. As a reputed educationist, and with your new appointment, how do you plan to look into the quality of these international schools?

A: Yes, there are many international schools in the country and we have proposals to register all international and private schools to have a standardisation. They should have infrastructure, teachers of a proper standard, and the syllabus. A secretariat will be established to look after these institutions. Though they function as separate entities, they will be brought under the Ministry of Education and quality will be checked by the Ministry.

Q: You worked with the Opposition Leader and are to now work with the President. How do you see the different styles of leadership?

A: Well, President Mahinda Rajapaksa is a warm person who will allow others to air their opinions, grievances and views; he is also a person who encourages and guides others to work. He is a capable leader who can get the maximum from those around him. He has the talent to get the contribution of all towards a common goal.

My former leader is a statesman who does not give much thought into personal relationships. They are not important to him and he wants people to work. They are his attitudes and qualities. He is also a leader with a vision.President Rajapaksa has the ability of getting the support of a lot of people, with different attitudes and skills, to work for his goal. What I appreciate is that the President has been able to look into the education system very well under the Mahinda Chinthana policy and if we go ahead according to it, the country will have a bright future because children are the future of this country.