By Jamila Najmuddin
A good education is essential for every child to succeed in life but a host of educational problems assail Sri Lanka today.To begin with, students in government schools are taught in Sinhala and Tamil mediums only which limits their ability to communicate at a wider level. Compared to the olden days, how good is the standard of education in Sri Lankan schools today?
Although most international schools offer a British curriculum, with the ongoing economic crisis Sri Lanka faces today, parents are forced to think twice before enrolling their children in these schools because of the high fees charged.
'Higher the fees, better the school.' But even though parents pay thousands as school fees, is the standard of education in these schools satisfactory?
On the other hand, though government schools have affordable school fees, are parents actually content with their children studying in Sinhala and Tamil mediums, at a time when English has become the first language, globally?
Speaking to The Sunday Leader, Principal, Stafford International School, Noreen Welikala said international schools have a very high standard of education.
"We follow the British standard in our international schools. Therefore these children have to prepare for foreign examinations. Our students have won several awards awarded by institutions like Edexcel. Some of these awards have been ranked as the 'world's best,' which our students have been able to achieve. This clearly shows that our standards are very high," said Welikala.
Good reputation
Welikala added that international schools of today have a very good reputation with international institutions like Edexcel because they strictly follow their guidelines.
"However, this does not mean that our standards are the very best. Everything needs upgrading. Therefore our standards need to be upgraded as well," added Welikala.
In terms of discipline, Welikala stated that international schools try to maintain strict discipline in their schools.
"Students from international schools feel that just because they follow the British standard they have to behave to such standards as well. But in Stafford International School we try to emphasis on our cultural values," said Welikala.
In terms of government schools Welikala added that since these schools lack good English teachers and they follow the local standards, students miss out on opportunities such as international awards awarded by institutions like Edexcel.
However, speaking to The Sunday Leader Principal, Royal College, Upali Gunesekara said local schools of today are of a very high standard as well.
"Definitely our government schools have a very high standard. It is not necessary that children should study in English medium to succeed in life. Most of the students that enter our medical colleges come from very remote villages and they have studied in the Sinhala medium. Within a few years time these children are successful doctors," said Gunesekara.
He further added that government schools maintain very strict discipline.
"Discipline is only achieved from a child's heart. Our teachers talk to the children, explaining to them that discipline plays an important role in one's life. We help children achieve this," said Gunesekara.
Parents informed
Gunesekara further added that when children do not maintain good discipline both parents are contacted immediately.
"When the parents are contacted, children think twice before breaking the rules again," said Gunesekara.
Chairman, Gateway International School, R.I.T. Alles stated that international schools today maintain a very high standard of education.
"Standards of education in international schools are very high because we follow the British National Curriculum. For example, Gateway International School follows QCA, which is the governing authority of policy in the UK. This authority controls the syllabuses in international schools."
"Today in Sri Lanka, 17 reputed international schools are involved in an association called the Association of International Schools in Sri Lanka. Schools in this association concentrate on the teacher element, which means to check if the teacher is qualified enough, have labs and libraries checked and upgraded, and provide all necessary facilities for games. The only facility that is not provided in these schools is a playground. Even if someone inspects these schools we have nothing to worry about as we provide the best standards and facilities for our students," said Alles.
Also being the former principal of D.S. Senanayake College, Alles added that compared to international schools, government schools also maintain a good standard of education.
"Government schools are also very good but I am only referring to reputed schools such as Royal College, D.S. Senanayake College and so on. But the only problem in our government schools today is that these schools consist of a very large number of students. Some schools have around 5000 to 7000 students in a school. These schools are not able to recognise their own students when they meet them outside the school."
Small number of students
"Compared to government schools, international schools have a very small number of students. In international schools there are only about 25 students per class whereas in government schools there are at least 40 to 45 students per class," said Alles.
However, Alles also mentioned that the one disadvantage that international schools face today is lack of English medium teachers.
Regarding discipline, Alles stated that both international and government schools, maintain very strict discipline.
"In D.S. Senanayake College the children are taught to obey their parents and worship them every morning. They are also taught to respect their parents and teachers. At Gateway we follow this same method and we teach our students Sri Lankan values," said Alles.
Meanwhile speaking to The Sunday Leader, Education Minister, Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku stated that only a few international schools maintain high standards whereas the others did not.
"Today the main problem in our country is that because our government schools offer only Sinhala and Tamil mediums of education, many people from high society prefer to send their children to international schools.
"Due to this, the government has introduced a 'multiple book option' and a 'bilingual book option.' The multiple book option offers a student a choice between three books either from Tamil, Sinhala or English medium. The bilingual option offers the student to do any subject in the English medium. For instance, year six students are given an option to do any three subjects in English and the rest in Sinhala or Tamil and year seven students are given the option to do any four subjects in English medium. This option continues till the ordinary level (O/Level) classes.
Currently 375 government schools are providing this option to their students and within 10 years almost all government schools will be providing this option," said Kodituwakku.
Computer education
The Minister further stated that only international schools provided their students with computer education but in June 2003, the government opened 212 computer centres all over the island for government school students.
"Another 263 computer centres were opened in February, this year, and the government will be opening a further 325 centres by May next year. This way we hope to minimise the gap between the international and government schools," said Kodituwakku.
Speaking to The Sunday Leader, housewife, Nalini Abesekara stated that standards of education in Sri Lankan schools, both international and government have dropped immensely compared to the olden days. English should be considered as a compulsory subject in all government schools.
"If English is introduced as a compulsory subject in schools, the future generation will be able to communicate and find jobs easily, internationally. If not, these children will be confined to our country only. Globally, the main language today is English," said Abesekara.
Abesekara further stated that the Education Ministry should seriously consider introducing the English medium in all government schools because not all parents could afford to put their children in international schools because of high fees.
"We have no choice but to put our students in government schools because of the ridiculous amounts charged as donations and fees by these schools," said Abesekara.
He also stated that although international schools have very high standards, discipline leaves much to be desired in these schools.
"Since most of the children from international schools come from rich families, they have very high expectations. They lack in discipline compared to government school children. Schools succeed only if strict discipline is maintained," said Abesekara.
Abesekara further added that 90% of international schools today are merely moneymaking institutions.
Present student of Asian International School and former student of Nalanda College, Arosha Rodrigo stated that the standards of education in government schools today is tougher than in international schools.
Rodrigo added that discipline in government schools is better than in international schools.
"This in a way is bad because when schools enforce very strict discipline, children tend to go a bit wild when not in school, such as at parties."
Given a choice of a government school from an international school, Rodrigo stated that he would chose an international school because the scope of entering top universities in the UK and USA are much better because these schools follow the Edexcel system.
