English compulsory for University

15 February 2011 03:00 pm Views - 7623

The decision to make English compulsory for university entrance from this year is a grave challenge to a student’s right to free education, the Ceylon Teachers Service Union (CTSU) said today.
 
“A large number of issues exist with regard to teaching English in several schools countrywide. Hence, we believe it is an extremely biased decision resulting in injustice to students,” CTSU General Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe said. 

“It is undeniable that schools in rural schools in particular suffer immensely due to the lack of facilities for learning English. And this decision will lead to thousands of children losing their opportunity to carry out their higher education.”

Mr. Jayasinghe said that although English language learning was important, yet it was unjustifiable to curb students from entering high education based solely on fluency in English. “This decision makes the Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake’s systematic attempts to privatize higher education quite evident. If the Minister and the authorities fail to cancel this decision, they would definitely have to face the dire consequences that would arise,” he said. (Lakna Paranamanna)