Only three ministers had back bones to take pragmatic decisions
There were only three education ministers who had a spine to take pragmatic decisions and a vision for national education in Sri Lanka who were C.W.W. Kannangara, I.M.R.A. Iriyagolla and Richard Pathirana, Small Crops Exports Minister Reginald Cooray said.
Addressing a ceremony held at the Matugama C.W.W. Kannangara Maha Vidyalaya to mark the admission of Grade 1 students to schools this year in the Matugama educational zone, Minister Cooray who is also a former education minister said the education system in the country during colonial era had been centred in favour of elite classes until Mr. Kannangara introduced free education.
“Thousands of children of down trodden families were able to get a better education and enter universities under the free education system that led to a huge social and cultural transformation as a result.
“Many of the professionals such as scientists, doctors, engineers, administrators and technocrats who are serving the country and world are the direct benefits of our free education,” Minister Cooray stressed.
“It is the responsibility of all, the government and the education authorities to carry forward the policies of Mr. Kannangara to develop the country’s education system. Education ministers must act with commitment and dedication to achieve these objectives, he added.
Education is not meant only to pass examinations and obtain certificates but to create useful and law abiding citizens with moral values.
Education Minister Bandula Gunawardana was also present at the event.
Courtesy: DM Online
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Just Not Done ,MR.Cooray to cast uncomplimentaries on your Cabinet colleagues.If you are sure about your own backbone take an Xray copy of it and go to the Big Boss.
RC said his piece in the presence of BG. He is batting to uphold “Free Education”. Free education, from nursery school to university, in SL is not at risk. RC has not clarified whether he fears University education is now at risk. SB has not said so.
SB has clarified, FREE UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN STATE UNIVERSITIES WILL CONTINUE UNAFFECTED, for the whole nation.
Just as private education has been introduced through Independent Schools, for those who can afford to pay, Indep University education is introduced, for those who can afford to pay.
Advantages:
1. This will make more places available in State Universities for most children.
2. Saves outflow of foreign exchange for university education of children of the rich.
3. Generate more foreign exchange for SL, through reserving a few places for foreign students, as practised in many countries in the East and West.
This is progress. JVP/JAM is preventing this progress by misrepresenting Indep Uni Education as stopping State Uni Education, which is absolutely untrue. They are anarchists bent on creating unrest in SL through using uni students as pawns in their political games, to overturn the strong UPFA led by Hon President MR, in conspiracy with diaspora Tamils, TNA, and foreign enemies of SL with their vested interests.