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Some principals, PPAs partners in school crimes
While highly-publicised ceremonies were held in schools on Wednesday to mark the admission of some 250,000 Grade 1 children, a shocking a scandalous scam where large sums of money have been obtained from parents for admission has been exposed. This came after extensive investigations by the Education Ministry.
Many highly-publicised ceremonies were held in schools on Wednesday to mark the admission of some 250,000 Grade 1 children
At least 10 leading schools are under investigation while principals of Royal College and D.S. Senanayake College in Colombo and Kingswood College, Kandy have been transferred.
In 2013, following complaints from parents, the Education Ministry in a circular said it was unlawful to demand money from parents for Grade 1 admissions.
However, it is alleged that the principals of popular schools are continuing the racket and demanding hundreds of thousands of rupees to admit children living in distant places.
The money, it is learnt, is being taken in the name of school development but no receipts are given to parents. Principals’ unions claim that some school principals, in connivance with past pupils’ associations (PPAs), are carrying out the fraud.
Sri Lanka National Principal Association President Mohan Weerasinghe said PPAs in some schools were operating ‘mafia style’ and acting as intermediaries between the principals and the parents to obtain money.
It is learnt that such lucrative transactions have prompted some PPA officials to remain as permanent members to perpetuate the racket.
Mr. Weerasinghe said the racket was flourishing because some principals were allowed to remain in their posts for 15 to 20 years. When they are transferred, the new principal also is initiated to the racket and the scam continues, he said.
The deals are so lucrative that principals transferred continue to receive perks including a generous fuel allowance that can run up to Rs. 15,000 a month.
Honest principals who refuse to play along with PPA racketeers are often transferred because some PPA officials use powerful connections in the line ministries to get this done.
It is also alleged that because some principals are so involved in the money-spinning racket, they have little or no time for school administrative work.
The unions claim that the students of popular schools get good grades in their O/L and A/L exams only because they go for tuition classes, ironically bringing credit to the school and the principal in office.
Some PPAs allegedly have allowed private companies to manage and own school property.
Mr. Weerasinghe said the Ananda and Thurstan swimming pools which had been built with public funds were being run like private companies and students were being charged a fee for using the pools.
In addition, it is alleged some PPAs are collecting huge sums by conducting musical shows and fairs using the school’s names but without accountability.
The union leader said these frauds had been brought to the notice of the Education Ministry and the Auditor General but little or no action had been taken.
In 2006, the Education Ministry in a move to cut down on school expenditure had introduced a school development programme where the school had to establish a school development committee (SDC) to raise funds for the development of the school.
These committees were to include teachers, parents, former pupils and Education Department officials as members. Their task was to manage and maintain the school’s development programmes.
Funds were obtained from the government, from parents and well-wishers and by renting out school buildings and land and sale of products turned out by students.
Gradually the flow of state funds stopped and parents were burdened with the task of developing the schools. They had to give or raise large sums of money for various activities.
What began as a pilot project in leading schools was later adopted in all schools and by 2011 covered the whole country. This has enabled school authorities to demand large sums of money from parents for development work.
The practice has now crept into Grade 1 admissions where parents are ready to part with huge sums of money to gain admission for their children to popular schools.
When applying for grade one admission to schools the Education Ministry requires that parents to have their school of preference listed in the application.
Accordingly, parents could mention a minimum of three and a maximum of six schools when applying. This ends up with children getting placement for more than one popular school, and parents obviously chose one and ignore the others.
It is learnt that these places are sold to children living in distant areas for large sums of money.
The Education Ministry’s 2013 circular insists that every school principal has to meet with the Director of Education with the list of students admitted to the school.
Those who have failed to respond are expected to be struck off the list and their places given to those on the waiting list.
However this does not happen and it is alleged that some principals with the connivance of PPAs take in students who live far away, depriving those students who live in close proximity to the school of a place.
The principals’ union claims that there are no audited accounts of how these funds are spent. The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin said that the funds should be deposited in the SDC account, but this is not happening.
Meanwhile another school, Hindu College Bambalapitiya, is also said to be involved in a scam with money being obtained for admissions, the School Development Committee secretary, S. Vishwalingam charged.
It is learnt that 14 teachers who were against the practice have been penalised or sidelined and have not been given a time table to teach. As a result, children in grades 6 to 13 have been affected. “They, however, get good grades because of tuition,” he said.
Mr. Vishwalingam said that situation was brought to the notice of Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam but no action was taken.
Meanwhile Kingswood College OBA President, Earl Gunasekera, a former UPFA member of parliament defended the principal who is under investigation.
While admitting that the school had acted in violation of the circular prohibiting the collection of money from parents, he said all monies have been accounted for, deposited in the SDC account of the school and receipts issued.
He said that the school was not involved in any irregular money transactions and this could be proved. “We have 46 letters from parents stating that they had given the monies voluntarily,” he said.
Mr. Gunaskera, however, said the only mistake the school had made was that it had not sought the permission of the ministry before collecting the monies.
He also cited a similar incident that took place six years ago where a former principal was alleged to have taken money from parents for grade one admissions but was exonerated and reinstated by an Appeal Court order.
“We are seeking a meeting with Minister Kariyawasam to settle matters amicably,” he said. Meanwhile, anti-corruption NGO Transparency International of Sri Lanka has come forward to take up any complaints in court.
Lawyer Jagath Liyanarachchi said the TISL was a part of a coalition against corruption and that aggrieved parties could come forward and complain to it.
Minister Kariyawasam said the Ministry was continuing its investigations into alleged rackets even in some of the leading schools.
He said the ministry would be introducing a mechanism from next year to prevent irregularities in admissions.
PM ordered removal of Royal principal  Former Royal College Principal Upali Gunasekera The Principal of Royal College, Colombo was among several Grade 1 national school heads who were transferred in a massive purge ordered by the Ministry of Education – all of them under a cloud as school inspectors launched an investigations into allegations of irregularities in these schools this week. Upali Gunasekera, who counted 13 years as principal of the country’s premier and oldest state school, was given marching orders on January 5 when Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, also an old Royalist, summoned and informed him of the transfer orders saying there were several allegations against him. Minister Kariyawasam had asked Mr. Gunasekera where he would like to be transferred to, and was informed that he would opt for a smaller school as principal. However, this week, Mr. Gunasekera was made a Director of Education at the ministry. The Royal College Union which celebrates its 125th anniversary today with a grand banquet in Colombo met on January 6, the day after the principal had been asked to leave the school. But the principal had not informed the old boys of this move. It was on the January 8 that the old boys got wind of the ministry decision and on Monday, January 11, a group of council members — the vice president, trustees and the past secretaries — met the minister saying the minister had the prerogative to transfer the principal but reasons should be adduced for such a move. Minister Kariyawasam had informed the old boys’ delegation that the decision was taken by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and was irrevocable. Another allegation was that the principal had had an additional class of 40 Grade 6 students without the ministry’s approval, leading to speculation that these students were enrolled outside ministry procedures. Moves by the old boys’ delegation to keep the principal till the conclusion of the quasquicentennial dinner of the RC Union, the Edex exhibition, the opening of the MAS Holdings Indoor stadium and the Big Match (Royal-Thomian cricket match) in March were turned down by the minister. The delegation was then introduced to the new Royal College principal, B.A. Abeyratne, who had been transferred from Thurstan College. Mr. Abeyratne assumed duties this week. Mr. Abeyratne himself had to leave Ananda College in 2005 on allegations of bribery at that school, but came out unscathed on a High Court order and was re-instated in service. Meanwhile, Royal’s School Development Society (SDS) has appealed to President Maihtripala Sirisena to have the transfer cancelled, but the President told the SDS officials that he did not want to intervene in the Prime Minister’s old school, and that they should take up matters with the Prime Minister. Mr. Abeyratne’s transfer to Royal College was met by a protest from students of Thurstan College situated right next to Royal, with students getting on to the road. Thurstan had no principal for over 12 months before Mr. Abeyratne took over duties at that school only a month ago. Mr. Gunasekera’s removal was met with shock by school authorities and old boys, given the considerable achievements of Royal during his tenure as principal, among them in the field of sports the school were rugby, cricket, athletics, table-tennis, water polo and squash champions. They also felt that the principal should not have been relieved of his post so unceremoniously without the allegations being proven. Mr. Gunasekera said yesterday he did not wish to comment. Meanwhile, the principals of Kingswood College Kandy and D.S. Senanayake College Colombo also have been transferred. |