PANNIPITIYA DHARMAPALA CURRICULUM SANS TECHNOLOGY SUBJECT
The Ministry of Education has decided not to include the Technology subject in the school of the Pannipitiya Dharmapala College if the school was not in a position to construct a building for technology studies.
The Principal of the school K.G. Wimalasena said the ministry officials had said this at an inquiry into a petition filed at the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission. He said the students concerned would be admitted to the Lumbini Maha Vidyalaya.
The parents had filed a petition when the ministry informed the principal to suspend the teaching of Technology subjects at school and to admit the students to the Lumbini College. They said they were not able to find the estimated cost of Rs.3.5 million for the building.
The parents pointed out that the teaching of the Technology subjects started at the Pannipitiya Dharmapala Vidyalaya on a decision taken at a meeting of principals and the teachers of Technolo-
The ministry instructed to suspend the teaching of this subject. Ministry officials said the World Bank provided aid only for schools without a primary section to teach Technology. The Human Rights Commission has given a decision accordingly.
gy. They said President Mahinda Rajapaksa who presided over the meeting instructed the relevant authorities to teach Technology subjects at every school.
One of the petitioners Amith Wathulanda said the children were longing to learn Technology subjects but they were now in utter disappointment.
“The ministry instructed to suspend the teaching of this subject. Ministry officials said the World Bank provided aid only for schools without a primary section to teach Technology. The Human Rights Commission has given a decision accordingly. However, the teaching of Technology subjects has been allowed in several schools with pri- mary sections in the Colombo town. Ironically Lumbini Maha Vidyalaya in Colombo was one such. Pannipitiya Dharmapala Vidyalaya has been subject to stepmotherly treatment since long,” he said.
The parents said they would take legal action against the arbitrary decision of the ministry.