EDUCATION OF CHILDREN
After reading your editorial of March 18, 2023, I was energized to pen these lines. You have said that “the recent needs assessment by Save the children show that 50 % of families are struggling to support their children’s education and some children are already dropping out of schools. ”you have also said that a recent survey of the Education Ministry has revealed 90 % of the students have not been able to acquire sufficient literacy or knowledge. Your editorial has pointed out also some of the reasons / causes which had precipitated the present a sad situation of education in Sri Lanka.
This sad and pitiful situation must change yielding place also to the birthing of a desirable socio-economic environment for human progress in Sri Lanka since in my opinion there is already a correlation between the poverty and the social isolation of our farmers, the fishermen, the plantation workers, industrial workers, casual labourers and their educational standards and hence no worthwhile progress will take place in their lives and that of their families until and unless education becomes the key that will unlock dignified human existence for them in Sri Lanka.
In the past, our educational system had produced many professionals. In the future, education must produce not mere professionals who will be gainfully employed but virtuous professionals and trustworthy leaders, with the needed skills and techniques and with proper decorum and demeanour, who will also transcend their selfish aims, in order to work for the common good of all the Sri Lankan families.
Proper education of the children with good health care is very necessary at present in
Sri Lanka. Good health care of the children depends also on the active caring presence and livelihood of the parents. Unfortunately many children are compelled to lead lives bereft especially of their mothers’ tender loving care since they (the mothers) have go overseas seeking employment.the Government therefore should focus its attention also on the poverty and destitution in the families and find ways and means to promote the education of the children and the youth.
Meaningful education with the needed skills and techniques depend also on the quality of the educational Centres (Schools, Colleges, Universities and Technical Schools etc.) and the active participation of the teachers, of the parents and of the Government.