School Inspectorate System revived from next month: AVK
View(s):The School Inspectorate System (SIS), for the supervision of both, State and private schools, will commence next month, Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam told the Education Times. A Commissioner General will be in charge of the system under which between 150 to 200 staff will supervise schools islandwide.
A National Education Quality Assurance Advisory Board will be established under the proposal to be submitted to the cabinet shortly.
Minister Kariyawasam said, provisions to appoint an SIS are available under laws passed in 1939, and had been operating about 30 years back. “This is a revival of a previous system,” he added.
Among the objectives is to monitor whether teachers are following the syllabuses closely, ensuring that expenditure for education is in accordance with policies, and whether infrastructure facilities are sufficient . The SIS will also look into whether the number of teachers available are evenly distributed. “After the SIS comes into operation a school ranking system will be introduced, where a school ranked 6th would mean the school needs immediate development,” Minister Kariyawasam said.
He said the ranking system will be useful for parents to identify the performance of schools. Rank No.1 is excellent, while Rank 2 and 3 would mean the schools were performing well and could continue as it is. The teacher and student performance, as well as the results of the school at public examinations, will be taken into consideration. He said countries such as Scotland were effectively using the SIS.
-Damith Wickremasekara