Graduate teachers appointed to WP schools purely on merit: WP Governor
View(s):Graduate teachers were appointed in the Western Province (WP) according to merit, without any political influence, said WP Governor A.J.M. Muzammil on Thursday.
The Governor was speaking at the Annual Prize-Giving of Susamayawardhana Vidyalaya, held at the New Town Hall on Thursday, where he was the Chief Guest.
School Principal W.A.K. Weerasooriya delivered the welcome address at the ceremony.
Addressing a packed audience of students, parents and teachers of the school, Gov. Muzammil pointed out that, during the selection of graduate teachers, to schools in the WP, the teachers were appointed only on their own competitive skills, based on the standard of education, to offer the best education to the students in the WP.
He pointed out that there are 1,200 schools against 362 national schools in the WP. “We have the highest number of students and teachers in the WP, therefore, we have a greater responsibility,” he added. He lamented that the number of Commerce graduate applicants exceeded the teachers’ requirements in the WP schools.
The governor urged the students to gear their education according to the market needs of the country, so that, they can be absorbed into various cadres, where employment opportunities are available. Stressing the importance of Vocational Education in schools, the Governor said students should be guided to select suitable courses of studies, not only according to their aptitudes, but also according to the market needs of the society.
Gov. Muzammil also told the students to give priority to their respective religious and cultural values during their school career.
He told the students that, as much as the students give priority to education, they should also give preference to their respective religious education. “Education is more useful to society provided there are religious values,” the Governor said, pointing out that most of the schools are built near places of worship, so that, religion and education go parallel to each other in life.