She was not just an excellent teacher, but one who cared for her students too

The most unconventional, caring, simple and excellent teacher, Professor Chandra Jayasuriya, a former Dean and Head of a Department of the Faculty of Education, University of Colombo passed away three months ago.

The news of Professor Jayasuriya’s death was quite unexpected to most of her friends and former students. Unfortunately her funeral took place on the first day lectures commenced after a prolonged non-academic trade union action. Hence many academics from the University of Colombo could not attend the funeral but had paid their last respects at her home the previous day.

At the Mount Lavinia cemetery on that Saturday morning I was sad to note that there were only a handful of people. Mostly her relatives and workers from her estate. However, a week later when I posted a comment about her death on Facebook, I was surprised and happy that many of her past students had shared my comment and from the responses I understood that in spite of the obituary appearing in the daily newspapers many had missed it.

I was fortunate to be a student of Professor Jayasuriya thrice over. She first taught me in the Post Graduate Diploma in Education (Teaching of English as a Second Language). The group was small and a majority were experienced teachers who had done their first degree in Arts. Professor Jayasurya taught Measurement and Evaluation which requires a mathematical knowledge and was difficult for students to grasp. Aware of this, she made it very simple. Further, before teaching a difficult concept she would spend half the period talking of quite unrelated sometimes personal anecdotes which resulted in much laughter in the class. It was later only we realized that was a technique she was using to put us at ease. Then she would teach a difficult concept in the most simple and clear manner. Finally, she would ask me and another colleague who had done A/L science whether we understood. Then she would entrust us to help our colleagues. This was peer teaching and both groups benefitted immensely.

Professor Jayasuriya also taught me Research Methods in two Masters’ Degree Courses. The second course comprised a diverse group such as doctors, teachers and psychologists. She used the same unconventional way of teaching and they all enjoyed it.

Her teaching style was referred to a “student friendly style”.

She was also a caring academic. When I first joined the Faculty of Education as a probationary lecturer, she was the Dean of the Faculty. Due to the shortage of space in the Faculty there was no cubicle for my personal use. Even before I noticed this she told me “you can use my cubicle as I hardly go there because I am in the Dean’s office. However, I am not going to be here for long as I am not going for a second term. Then we can share the room without fighting with each other!” This statement showed how caring and simple she was. Had I shared the room with her it would have been an unforgettable experience I’m certain. But I lost the opportunity as very soon I had my own cubicle. When I become the Dean of the Faculty years later I often thought about this statement and tried my best to cater to the needs of my junior colleagues.

Below are two comments from her students to exemplify her caring and simple nature.

I am so sad that I could not pay last respect to a teacher who was like a mother. I was in Sri Lanka yet did not know about her death. I do not know the reason for that.

Her simple qualities are an example to all especially to people who are swollen headed due to their position.

I first learnt from her that more than the position simplicity shines.

Dear madam thank you very much for all you did for thousands of students who in turn may be imparting this knowledge to many more. Rest in peace madam!

This is the wish of your students ‘May you attain nibbana!’