Principals debar achievers from seeking ‘better’ schools: CTU
View(s):Parents of children with exceptional results at the 2017 GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) exam, complained that, their attempts to remove their children from their present schools to admit them to popular schools, have been barred by the Principals.
The Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) said hundreds of complaints have been received from parents who are trying to find ‘better’ schools for their children who secured 9 ‘A’s at the O/L exam.
CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said parents alleged that schools principals where those children had their Primary education, refused to sign documents for the students’ release, and even phoned the prospective schools, demanding they not be admitted, depriving them of attending a popular school to continue their Secondary education.
Mr Stalin said this situation prevails because of the disparity in the education system among National schools. He said that, although there are 353 National schools in the country, only about 36 schools are sought after by parents, as their image is one of quality education.
Also, the push by the Ministry of Education (MoE) to schools to show good results at National exams, also contributes to the problem. “In order to show produce results, Principals forcibly retaining bright children. This process is happening at Grade 5 Scholarship exams too. In addition, Government failure to upgrade education in all schools is compounding the issue,” he said.
“This is wrong, as the Principals are violating the rights of the child to continue his/her education wherever they wish,” Mr Stalin said.
“There is no equality in the standard of education in the schools, which drives parents to clamour for the few places in popular schools, and paying high fees,” he said .
“Several representations in this regard, made by the CTU to the MoE has gone unheeded. Although the authorities had promised to look into the matter, nothing has changed,” he said. - CC