(May 15, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Recently the department of Early Childhood and Primary Education in the Faculty of Education of the Open University of Sri Lanka called for applications for a course of study entitled "Certificate in preschool education". This is a one year course of study for preschool teachers and for those interested in the field. As per the advertisement the course of study is to be conducted in the Sinhala medium in Colombo, Kandy, Kurunegala and Matara. While the Tamil medium courses were to be conducted only in Colombo and Batticaloa.
It appears that the authorities have not taken into consideration the training needs of Tamil medium candidates in the upcountry areas especially in the Central and Uva provinces. It is a fact that there are hundreds of young plantation women working in preschools in the Nuwara-Eliya, Kandy and Matale Districts and some Districts in the Uva province. Many of them do not get an opportunity for formal training in preschool education. The present Open University course would be a blessing for them. However if the course of study is going to be held in Colombo and Batticaloa the question will arise as to whether the plantation girls will benefit by this. Although it’s an distance course of study, one needs to visit the centres on and off for review sessions, workshops, tutorial classes, library reference, evaluation and consultations. One would accept that given the present security situation in the country it would be extremely difficult for young plantation girls to travel to Colombo and to find temporary residential facilities in Colombo. In addition to this the travelling cost is going to be an additional burden on them. It is sad to note that the so called upcountry politicians have not so far shown any concern about this matter.
The Open University has regional centres in Kandy and study centres in Hatton, Badulla and Bandarawela. If the present course of study could be started in any of these plantation area based centres, hundreds and hundreds of plantation youth will join the course of study. The brochure issued by the open university says that a new course of study could be started in any of the centres if there are more than fifteen students. There is no doubt that if the course of study is started in any one or more upcountry based centres, hundreds and hundreds of present preschool teachers and other aspiring candidates will apply. It is the duty of the plantation politicians especially Mr. Chanthrasekaran Minister of Community Development and Inequity Eradication, the Deputy Minister of Education Mr. Satchithananthan, Mr. Arulsamy Minister of Education Central Province and others to take up this matter with the authorities of the open university.
Failure to attend to this matter immediately will deprive the plantation children of quality preschool education and also, employment opportunities for a large number of plantation girls.
In the meantime it is also the duty of the Government to exhibit it’s genuineness in doing justice to the plantation community which makes a major contribution towards the economy of this country while at the same time remaining the most underdeveloped and marginalized community in Sri Lanka.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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