Don’t politicise education, President tells lecturers
View(s):President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasised the perils of politicising education, warning that such a move would inevitably lead to the nation’s downfall.
He urged all stakeholders to set aside personal biases and engage in collaborative discussions to devise the most effective education system for the country within the next 2-3 years.
These remarks were made at the 10th Biennial Conference of the All Island Professional Lecturers’ Association (APLA), at the Nelum Pokuna Theater in Colombo.
The APLA, established in 2004 by a consortium of tuition teachers nationwide, convened the event. Dr K Ariyasinghe, a founding member, along with other senior teachers, were presented with Senior Lecturers Awards by the President.
President Wickremesinghe said that the Government’s planned education reforms would not only involve education experts, but also welcome input from school teachers, economic sector professionals, and organisations like the APLA.
He reiterated the importance of inclusive dialogue in shaping the future of education in the country.
“In 1981, as Minister of Education, I authoured the white paper amidst widespread calls for the prohibition of private classes. At the time, we firmly opposed such a measure.
“The fundamental mission of the Ministry of Education is to ensure quality education for every child. Over time, the supplementary class system emerged in our country and has since made significant strides.
“This development was driven by the shortcomings in our education sector and the intrusion of politics, which hindered effective problem-solving. Consequently, students and parents turned to supplementary classes as an alternative. However, today, there is a symbiotic relationship between mainstream schooling and supplementary classes.
“Particularly notable was the discussion surrounding the provision of education through online technology during the recent pandemic. Back in 2017, we proposed to the Ministry of Education the distribution of tablets to high school students for online learning, with the necessary funding allocated. Unfortunately, the project was shelved due to objections. Had it been implemented then, online education could have commenced earlier. Nevertheless, I commend the initiation of this project by the All Island Professional Lecturers’ Association.”
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