Need for Sinhala Language teacher looms large :

Kilinochchi MV children pick up their education

By Kurulu Kariyakarawana in Kilinochchi

Kilinochchi Maha Vidyalayam . Pix: Susantha Wijegunasekara

It was not only the lifestyle, livelihoods or essential areas such as agriculture, health care and law and order that was affected by the three decade old war on terrorism, education which is a basic requirement for a developed society was badly affected in the North and the East during the past era. A number of schools were subjected to shelling from both sides which not only flattened the school buildings but hampered the invaluable service rendered to the children.

The Kilinochchi Maha Vidyalayam is one of the oldest and main schools in the heart of the formerly LTTE governed capital. Conducting classes from Grade one to the Advanced Level, the school is reputed for the merits earned by its students even during the dark era. The importance of the school is seen in the fact that the terror leader Velupillai Prabhakaran's son Balachandran also received his primary education at the Kilinochchi Maha Vidyalayam.

The school was closed for students in the first term of 2008 due to the growing intensity of the fights between the LTTE and the government forces. Continuous shelling and attacks made the area entirely unsuitable to conduct a school and as a result it was closed by the administration.

After the LTTE was defeated in May, 2009 and the area brought under government control the school was reopened on January 19, 2010 with merely 36 students. Neither a building nor any other permanent shelter was available to hold classes and the students and the teachers had to depend on the shade under the trees and makeshift roofs.

The Principal of Kilinochchi Maha Vidyalayam, Arasaratnam Pangayatselvan explained how the school developed back to its old form with much difficulty. Pangayatselvan counts a service of 10 years in the school as Principal and Deputy Principal.

Today the number of students has increased to 2111 with 80 teachers. All the students are of Tamil ethnicity. English is taught from Grade one as an extra language and Maths and Science are taught both in the Tamil and the English medium classes from Grades six to eight.

A grave problem faced by the school is that there is no teacher to teach Sinhala Languge though it is the second language prescribed by the government circular. It is a common feature prevalent in all the schools in the district. The Principal had informed the authorities about it but no response has been received so far. However, some volunteer teachers have agreed to teach Sinhala Language without a fee but it has not been organised properly.

Following the reopening in 2010 the entire school had to be rebuilt with foreign funds. The Australian government backed agency AusAID granted $86 million supported by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) which helped to construct five buildings of which the last one was declared open on February 15, 2013. The Principal recalling his memories said although the schools were maintained with little support from the LTTE it was not like today where a peaceful environment prevails in the area.

Perhaps the Kilinochchi Maha Vidyalayam was shown a special attention by the LTTE since the terror leader's youngest son attended it. According to Pangayatselvan who was the Deputy Principal then, only a handful of people knew it was Prbhakaran's son. The child had attended under a different name and none of his colleagues nor the teachers knew of his presence. Balachandran was reportedly studying in Grade five at the time the school closed.

Common issues such as the shortage of text books were experienced frequently but the school authorities were able to manage. It has however not affected the results and the overall achievements of the school at general exams, aesthetics and sports.

The pass rate of the G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination in 2012 is 86.8% and the pass rate of G.C.E. Advance Level is 91%. Of the 48 students who sat the 2012 Advanced Level exam three students passed with three A passes in the Commerce stream.

It is remarkable how the students achieve such success amid the numerous hardships in their family lives. The majority of the students come from farmer families stricken with poverty. Another important factor is the high attendance of the pupils..

The first thing one would notice when one walks into the Principal's office is the numerous trophies arranged in a wall cupboard. The showcase is filled with various cups, trophies and shields received for many events including sports and drama competitions.

The Principal boasts of a good cricket team that had won many matches against neighbouring schools at the Zonal level. One of the best players had been awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal College Colombo. The school also owns a good netball team, he said.

Taking part in sports and other school events in the south was not an easy task for the students of the Kilinochchi Maha Vidyalayam as special permission and passes were required from the LTTE to enter the southern parts of the country through Omanthai. It had prevented many educational tours being conducted in important venues in the south. However, with the regaining of peace it has now become a reality.

Most of the development of the school has been completed by now including new buildings for classrooms, a playground, a computer laboratory, toilette and other essential facilities. A fully equipped science laboratory is scheduled to be opened next month for the Advanced Level Biology and Maths students.

Since the school was closed in 2008 due to the clashes, we had to shift to a temporary venue in Dharmapuram to conduct classes. Civilians in large numbers migrated to Dharmapuram seeking refuge.

For about one and half years no civilian lived in this area except for the members of the LTTE who were trying to secure their stronghold, the Principal said.

But since 2010 a new lease of life has been given to these people who have been resettled in their former lands and their children are now able to pick up their education once again, said the Principal beaming with expectations for a bright future for the Kilinochchi children.