The government spent Rs. 8,000 million to develop educational sector and it sees grand developments now, Education Minister and UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said.
He was addressing the gathering at the opening ceremony of the preliminary learning resource centre of the Batticaloa Koddaimunai Kanista Vidyalaya under the theme, “Nearest school is best school” at a cost of Rs.17 million on Saturday (19). The Minister also participated in the foundation laying ceremony for the three-storey administrative building at a cost of 35 million for the Batticaloa Teachers” College.
He said that previous government spent only Rs. 8 million on the education. “Today, the Eastern Province alone received a much higher allocation. Trincomalee received Rs. 2,400 million, Ampara Rs. 2,800 million and Batticaloa Rs. 2,800 million,” the Minister said.
“We have established 2,000 educational zones, 300 smart class rooms and 10,000 schools. Many of them have electricity facilities. We have appointed 4,000 principals, 852 SLEAS Officers and 1,296 graduates. Within three and half years, we accomplished a great deal of development activities in the sector,” the Minister said.
He said Tamil and Muslim people in the north and east suffered untold hardships during the war. “The President and the Prime Minister were aware that the two communities are supporting the Good Governance Government and they must be helped achieve their goals in life,” he said.
“Education in the country declined very much within the last three decades.We have now put it back in progress. The department has taken measures to train graduates in teaching before appointing them to schools. They will be recruited as assistant teachers. Over Rs. 8,000 million was allocated to provide labs for 3,000 schools and Rs 700 million to provide library books for Eastern Provincial schools.
The Minister said 26 subjects were taught now at schools and Science and Math were made compulsory. “Our educational system is in line with international standard now. If the Good Governance Government continues, the educational sector will improve very much. GCE (A/L) students will be provided with laptops. Drinking water facilities were provided for 26,000 schools and 6,000 school building were constructed,” he said.
The Minister was honoured with a memento by Government Teachers” College Principal B. Paramesweran.
National Co-existence, Dialogue and Official Languages Deputy Minister Ali Zahir Moulana, Batticaloa District TNA Parliamentarians G.Sirinesan, S. Yogesweran, and S.Viyalendran, Batticaloa Government Agent M.Uthayakumar, Batticaloa Mayor T. Saravanapavan, and Batticaloa District UNP Organiser S.Mahesweran were present.