Ampara O/L student's emotional message highlights educational disparity

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MP Bimal Rathnayake today read out an emotional message written by a student of a rural school in Ampara on a GCE Ordinary Level Exam Paper to highlight the disparity regarding the resources allocated for education. 

By Sandun Jayawardana

In his speech to Parliament during the debate on the Expenditure Head of the Education Ministry, Mr Rathnayake read out a message written by a student at Ampara, Mahaoya Kudaharasgala Secondary School. He said the message had been passed over to him by a group of teachers in Ratnapura, where the paper had been sent for marking. 

The message (translated from Sinhala) written in the question paper is as follows: 

“Sir, our school has not had a science teacher for 6 years. Unlike other students, I am not asking that you pass me. I am asking that you send our school a science teacher so that at least my brothers and sisters who will sit the exam after me will pass.”

The issues faced by the students at this school in Ampara is reflective of the problems faced by many students at a large number of schools throughout the country, Mr Rathnayake stressed.