Kurana St Anne’s M.V. Negombo displays impressive development in all spheres
To produce a generation of competent, intelligent and peace-loving youth who appreciate and respect the cultural and social values as well as who are able to face the challenges of the 21st century with confidence is the lofty mission of the school. ‘The tree of values’ in the centre of the school garden bears witness to the efforts made to inculcate virtuous thinking and moral values in children which is undoubtedly as important as academic excellence.
Located on the southern border of Negombo, the school has come of age under the leadership and nurturing of the current principal Ms. Rukmani Mallika who was awarded the prestigious Guru Prathiba Prabha Sammama, the President’s award for outstanding teachers and The Supasan Guru Abhimani award for the Best Principal in the Negombo Zone in 2011. These accolades honour the hard work and commitment she has been rendering throughout her tenure of 14 years. Ms. Rukmani Mallika has given priority to quality education while maintaining high standard of discipline. Founded by Mr. and Mrs. D.E Muhandiramge in 1945 in a cadjan building with 180 students and two teachers, the school was inaugurated as Kurana Maha Vidyalaya by the late Hon. D. S Senanayaka who was to be the first Prime Minister of independent Ceylon a couple of years later. Mr. D.E Muhandiramge served as the first principal of the school from 1945 to 1959 and laid a solid moral and academic foundation. Within the 67 years of history, 10 principals have rendered their dedicated service paving the way for the present development of the school. In 1970, the school was upgraded to 1C category while in 1985, it was renamed to Kurana St. Anne’s Maha Vidyalaya, and these are a few milestones in the school’s history. The current student base of around 1500 is being guided by forty-six dedicated teachers under the close supervision of Ms. Rukmani Mallika. The school conducts extra classes after school hours to equip the students with an edge in knowledge and competency. As a result, in the last decade, the school has gained a marked improvement at the G.C.E. O/L and A/L exam and become quite popular. The pass rate at the G.C.E. O/L exam has increased from 37% in 2001 to 80% in 2011.A lush vegetable cultivation in an urban school is undoubtedly a refreshing sight. Every class is made responsible for a vegetable patch in front of their classroom. ‘Green Club’ was launched with the hope of fostering a generation who will love and appreciate nature and its abundance to mankind. The 2nd Place they won at the National Quality Award 2009 competition in the school sector speaks volumes of good practice. Further, the school also won the National Productivity Award in the 1ABC category in 2009. In June, St. Anne’s MV got the opportunity to host the 4-day “Environment Camp” in the Negombo Zone which is an annual educational event held in collaboration with the Zonal Education office. The objective of the camp was to provide Grade 5 students with practical experience of subject matters learnt in the classroom through visual inputs and inspirations. The school places equal emphasis on aesthetic studies, ICT and sports to inspire creativity, innovative thinking and to nurture more rounded and emotionally balanced children who are not totally dependent on book knowledge. They have also excelled in the arena of sports and brought fame to school in volleyball and football; three girls were selected to the National Girls’ Football Contingency in 2010. St. Anne’s MV is growing in quality and size. “We have a clear vision,” says Ms. Mallika Rukmani. It is heartening to witness her ability to harness the best of the academic staff, students, past pupils and parents in fulfilling the mission while keeping up with the school’s motto ‘Justice is Strength.’ - Muditha
Fonseka