Eastern Uni. senior undergrads to fill dearth of O/L teachers
View(s):Final year undergraduates at Batticoloa University will shortly be drafted to conduct classes at schools within the division, owing to a severe dearth of teachers, officials said this week.
The discussion was attended by local academics including Eastern University Vice Chancellor Kidnan Kopintherajah and the Deans of the Ffaculties of Arts, Management, Agriculture and Science, Government Agent (GA) Mrs P.S.M. Charles and representatives from the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The dearth of qualified teachers in the Batticoloa Division has severely retarded the progress of even the clever students who are unable to achieve the results they deserve, which was one reason to draft in the senior undergraduates to help out in this situation, Vice Chancellor, Kidnan Kopintherajah told the Sunday Times.
“We must move on towards changing this situation and the assistance and cooperation of all stakeholders, both Government and otherwise, in the education sector must work together, if the desired results are to be achieved”, he said.
“Following the discussions at the seminar, it was decided to form an organising committee to look into short term and long term projects, and allow senior undergraduates to conduct classes for students preparing for the GCE Ordinary Level exams in December this year,” Ms. Charles said.
“While the undergraduates will operate on a voluntary basis, the GA’s office will persuade Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) and others to provide an allowance, inclusive of traveling, for the undergraduates who may have to travel considerable distances,” she added.
“At present, there are 342 government schools with an estimated 12,7000 students in the Batticoloa District, and there is a dire need for logistical support to get the volunteers to and from these schools located in various places,” Ms. Charles added.
“Certain UN agencies have already expressed their willingness to assist in this programme to involve senior undergraduates as voluntary part-time teachers, until the dearth in qualified teachers could be filled,” she said. – Deva Achuthan
| The discussion was attended by local academics including Eastern University Vice Chancellor Kidnan Kopintherajah and the Deans of the Faculties of Arts, Management, Agriculture and Science, Government Agent (GA) Mrs P.S.M. Charles and representatives from the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) |
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