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NIE DG for dialogue to fast track National Education Policy
View(s):The newly appointed National Institute of Education (NIE) Director General, Prof Gunapala Nanayakkara said he intends initiating a dialogue among Education System stakeholders to accelerate implementation of a National Education Policy, to curb wastage of resources and inefficiency within the Education sector, as top priority.
“It has been discussed for years, but nothing has been accomplished. From covering the nature of the syllabuses, to system of governance, role of provincial councils, teacher development, examinations to quality assurance, all areas will be covered under this policy,” he said.
Prof. Nananyakkara said, though the National Education Commission is the legal body to implement a national policy, it has not been implemented, as there have not been continuous dialogue between academics, experts, seniors and career principals and teachers, in order to have stable development within the Education sector.
“Science, Maths and English will be upgraded in a manner in which rural schoolchildren too benefit from facilities, human resources (teachers) and study material,” he said.
He said discussions were held with the Education Minister and senior officials to introduce a self assessment system for students.
“I suggested a solution in which students are privy to their answer scripts, after results are released. This will help them identify their weaknesses. The anxiety and depression comes when you think you do well, but get low marks,” he said.
Referring to the suicide of a schoolgirl this week, after she failed in Maths, Prof Nanayakkara said the present school counseling system needs to be strengthened with more counseling training for teachers.
He said the present teaching methods do not include the use of technology to connect stakeholders.
“IT systems need to be developed in a way in which all State Education institutes are connected. Today, the websites of these Education institutes are not student friendly, not updated and uninteresting,” he added.
Prof Nanayakkara pioneered the first MBA Degree programme in the country in 1980, and was founder Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Management in 1986. He was also bestowed the Presidential Award of Sikhamani in 2005, for his services to the Higher Education sector.
-Nadia Fazlulhaq,
Pix by Athula Devapriya