Mervyn’s episode draws attention to ills of the educational system

| by Milinda Rajasekera

(October 08, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) “Mervyn does it again,” said the news report in Monday’s issue of The Island newspaper. The news item was about another episode in the series of dramatic and abrasive acts that Minister Mervyn Silva continuously enacts with impunity. In this instance, the minister in his obstreperous style has intervened to settle a dispute in a school in the Kelaniya area. The minister had visited the school and taken to task a member of the Parent-Teacher Association of the school who had been critical of the lottery that the school had organized to raise funds for the construction of the college swimming pool.

Law on whose side?  - File Photo

The minister had summoned the member to school and reprimanded him for making critical comments about the planned project. The member who had tried to present his side of the dispute was roughed up and pushed aside for the whole country to see on TV. He was warned against making critical comments about the school activities.

Much has been said and written about the aggressive acts that this Public Relations Minister commits at regular intervals apparently with the blessings of his godfathers and the support of his obsequious henchmen. He seems to have been allowed free rein to do whatever he deems necessary to maintain ‘law and order’ in the area. Despite complaints made and court cases filed against his obnoxious acts, he carries on regardless amid cheers and applause of his supporters and admirers. It is for the authorities concerned to rein in this self-proclaimed ‘King of Kelaniya’ who quite clearly exceeds limits of his official assignments and encroaches on others’ duties.

This episode brings out something much more important than checking the conduct of this minister. This is none other than the present state of the whole educational system which seems afflicted with a minefield of intricate problems. Allegations of corruption and various misdeeds occurring in the educational system have become common today. The present issue of collecting funds for various school projects is not a practice confined to this Kelaniya school. Complaints are numerous about schoolchildren and their parents being put into much inconvenience and embarrassment by school authorities that organize various school development projects. Reports say that, in some instances, the school authorities have not obtained the required permission from the educational authorities for collecting funds for these purposes. Principals and teachers, in some schools, organize these projects in collaboration with unscrupulous sections of past pupils and parent-teacher associations for feathering their own nests. Ticket books are issued to schoolchildren with strict instructions to sell them and bring the money in the space of a given time. In some instances, it is alleged that the students are debarred from attending school without accomplishing the assigned task. Then, there are reports about students in some schools being ordered to change the colour of their shoes and the type of their school bags from time to time thus giving rise to allegations about commissions being granted by interested parties to school authorities.

This is only one aspect of the multifarious problems the Education Department is confronted with. There are several other areas in which corruption, abuse of power and maladministration reign supreme. These irregularities vary from donations taken for school admissions to appointment, promotion and transfer of teachers and officials. The situation prevailing in the Education Department is so deplorable that it has come second in the list of ten most corrupt institutions in the country.

It is this country’s misfortune that the education department which should set an example to all other sectors - since it is the institution that is responsible for moulding a new generation good citizens for the country - has descended to such low levels. The present parlous position was not reached overnight. This is a situation that has developed over the years despite successive governments and ministers vowing to streamline this vital sector. The fulfillment of the longstanding promise of a national educational policy geared to eliminating the present problems and restoring the honour and dignity of educational institutions seems far away despite the interest and enthusiasm shown by Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena. He raised public expectations when he promised a methodical approach to the system of education in the country as he assumed office as minister in charge of the subject.

The intractable process of politicization, growth of international schools, malaise of tuition, indiscipline among students and teachers, establishment of private educational institutions and myriad other problems are indeed so intricate and urgent that they need quick and careful attention of all concerned with the country’s future. If the educational system is allowed to proceed unreformed in this manner, the dream of making this country Asia’s wonder is certain to remain a mere figment of imagination.