Recent figures which showed that almost half the students sitting the GCE Ordinary level examination in 2009 had failed or are unable to move to the next level has shocked many Sri Lankans.
The dismal numbers also figured this week at various discussions, reflecting the plight of Sri Lanka’s education system and raising concerns as to whether the country’s human resource base which must be built on a sound educational structure, is ready for the economic take-off.
Sri Lanka’s education system has been deteriorating steadily and no effort has been made to put things right. At a meeting this week of the Sunday Times Business club, MTI Consulting CEO Hilmy Cader said the fact that a large number of Sri Lankan students are studying abroad in schools and universities was clear evidence that the structures are failing in the country. Furthermore he points out that Sri Lanka is losing valuable foreign exchange which could be retained if the quality of education improves and established foreign universities are allowed to operate here.
In an interview with the Business Times, respected business leader Hemaka Amarasuriya cites not only education but a disciplined society as a pre-requisite for building a sound base for Sri Lanka to grow at the end of the conflict. Discipline as every knows comes from sound education and values at home. Cader also responded with a firm ‘Education’: when asked what are one or two of the most essential ingredients required for Sri Lanka to grow in a post-war environment.
Amarasuriya, stepping down in June as longtime Chairman of Singer Sri Lanka, was also forthright in his comments on how this country should progress. He pointed out the need for freedom of expression saying people should be able to express their views without fear, allowing them to be creative in their chosen field of work or profession.
He lamented the decline in values and the emergence of an indisciplined society where the laws of the land are applied in an indiscriminate manner.
In discussing the way forward for Sri Lanka, Cader raised some salient points and spoke of how countries without natural resources have speedily developed compared to those with an abundance of natural resources who were way behind.
Singapore or Hong Kong for example doesn’t have any natural resource but growth rates have surged with a high quality of life index because of a sound human resource base, good policies and sound educational structures, according to Cader.
Another example is the Middle East where most countries lack a skilled workforce and technocrats. As oil revenues grew in the 1970s, these countries began hiring top labour from outside resulting in doubling incomes and being amongst the top nations in the world like Dubai for example. On the other hand, Nigeria which also has solid oil revenues is struggling without a good human resource base and no attempt to change.
Sri Lanka has both natural resources and a relatively good human resource base which can be enhanced by overhauling the education system. But will that help if we don’t have the will to, like in Amarasuriya’s words, allow free speech, restore discipline and have politicians who display statesmenship?
On the other hand the usual political bashing between the government and the opposition continues unabated. Remember, a prolonged period of elections is over, and the ruling party has won both the presidential and parliamentary polls, the latter with a resounding majority. Nothing can change that.
The time for playing political games is over. The country is free of terrorism and it is highly unlikely that Tamil militancy would raise its heads again.
There is political stability and security. Both the government and the opposition should be magnanimous in victory or defeat and work together to take the country on a new growth path where poverty will reduce and the quality of life improve for millions of middle and low-income Sri Lankans.
As leaders in the business community have spoken, priority must be given to a solid education structure as the basis for future growth. That’s the key to the future of a properous nation as countries like Singapore have proved. |
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