PM calls for probe into declining school attendance among A/L students

2 January 2025 05:45 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 18 Bookmark

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Colombo, January 2 (Daily Mirror) - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has urged a comprehensive investigation into the increasing trend of absenteeism among students pursuing Advanced Level education.

During a visit to the Maharagama National Institute of Education, Dr. Amarasuriya expressed deep concern over the noticeable drop in classroom attendance, particularly among male students.

She emphasised the need to address this issue to guarantee equal access to education for all children, regardless of their circumstances.

“Education must be accessible to every child, free from social or economic barriers,” the Prime Minister stated.

“It is unacceptable for students to miss out on their education due to preventable factors,” she added.

Dr. Amarasuriya highlighted the critical importance of creating an inclusive educational environment where all children can complete 13 years of schooling and have opportunities for higher education.

She also called for immediate action to identify and eliminate the barriers preventing students from fully engaging in their studies.

Comments - 18

Rahulan Thursday, 02 January 2025 05:57 PM

If a child failed to attend school. It’s the negligence of the parents. Fine the parents for non attendance without a letter of excuse.

5 9

VRAJ Friday, 03 January 2025 01:03 AM

START FROM GRATE 8TH VOCATIONAL EDUCATION,

0 3

Gokula Siripathiarachchi Friday, 03 January 2025 04:49 AM

Really!! it's not that black and white. I suspect a lot of students drop out due to financial difficulties. School uniforms, books, shoes, meals tuition costs money and I am pretty sure a fair proportion of the dropouts are doing some sort of a job trying to support their parents and siblings. So Rahulan, if a child is working to support sick parents or comes from a very poor single parent family do you want them fined?

1 3

Being Adaptable and Upgrading Courses Is The New Norm Friday, 03 January 2025 06:55 AM

There could be other reasons than blaming the parents only. It could be to support the family income especially during these challenging times, found the studies boring and wanted to get work experience soonest etc. With AI adoption and the way things are being transformed in many developing and developed countries, having basic foundation in education may be the path to success. Just need more hands on, use of logic and forever upgrading oneself with various courses at the workplace is the way we may need to look at. Most jobs will be redundant after a few years in the future. Just look how the Smart Phone has transformed the way things are being conducted within a short 20 years plus!

1 3

Sokrates Friday, 03 January 2025 08:02 AM

This is done in Germany.

0 1

Ganesh Thursday, 02 January 2025 07:17 PM

Our education system, much like many policymakers, is likely outdated. Access to university is limited to a select few, whereas in other countries, every student has the opportunity to pursue higher education. We need a system that not only aligns with current market demands but also ensures a strong foundation in STEM fields.

1 13

Shera Thursday, 02 January 2025 07:34 PM

Students end up doing certificate courses and taking other routes to earn credentials and prepare for employment. Most tech related jobs require only O/Ls and the training and certifications.

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PARENTS SHOULD BE INFORMED AND BECOME INVOLVED WHEN ANY CHILD STARTS SKIPPING SCHOOL WITHOUT REASONABLE EXCUSES. Thursday, 02 January 2025 07:41 PM

GOOD INTENTIONS BY THE PM, EVERY CHILD DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDY AND COMPLETE 13 YRS. IS THERE A SYSTEM THAT PARENTS ARE IFORMED WHEN A CHILD KEEPS AWAY FROM SCHOOL FOR DAYS AND OR FROM TIME TO TIME. WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE THE SCHOOL WRITE TO PARENTS INFORMING THEM AND OR CALLING THEM, RECORDS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. TODAY CHILDREN MISS SCHOOL FOR VARIOUS REASONS, BUT THE REASONS FOR WORRY ARE DRUGS USING OR PEDDLING, AFFAIRS WITH SOMEONE IN THE SCHOOL OR OUTSIDE AND PARENTS OPPOSE, SO THEY MEET DURING SCHOOL AND OR WORK HRS.

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Principal Thursday, 02 January 2025 07:57 PM

With OL they are doing degrees in local and foreign university

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Government Must Think About it. Thursday, 02 January 2025 08:18 PM

A/L Students specially those studying Maths and Science subjects get good grades not because of school teachers but for the dedicated teaching of the Private Tutors . These Private Tutors did not go to Teacher Training Colleges like the School Teachers they went to Universities and acquired solid knowledge in their subjects. In Britain the top private schools do not recruit anyone with Teacher qualifications , they select candidates who went to good universities and became knowledgeable in their subjects.

5 7

Sri Lankan Parent in Britain Thursday, 02 January 2025 11:07 PM

Absolutely. Sri Lanka too should follow what is happening in the private schools in Britain where the rulers and owners of Britain send their sons and daughters for education. No Teacher Training Qualifications . Only Criteria is good Academic education from good Universities and the Natural ability to teach . Only the government schools in Britain focus on Teacher Training Qualifications. In these government schools most Maths teachers have not studied Maths in Universities, they study other subjects , but afterwards they go to Teacher Training Colleges spend an year and come out hilariously as "QUALIFIED MATHS TEACHERS". This is why South Asians come to Britain and get good Tech jobs as locals are poor in Maths due to stupidity of the British government schools not having proper Maths Teachers .

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srilankan Thursday, 02 January 2025 10:56 PM

There are politics between teachers in schools. During my time a group of teachers conspired and managed to transfer the teacher who taught me 2 of the subjects I did for A/L. They managed to bring a mediocre teacher instead of her. The previous teacher with her strict and solid guidance encouraged us to go to school everyday but when the new teacher came in with 8 months away from A/Ls she didn't do justice as the previous one. The point being that not every teachers are proper teachers and school politics only ruin the life of the students. I stopped going to school when the new teacher proved inadequate and as someone who didn't go tuition classes at that time had to resort to tuition classes. Honestly, almost every English or general English teachers I have studied under really needs to do better because some of them weren't really good in English. The Education system needs to really have a strict evaluation on who can and cannot teach.

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Big Sam Thursday, 02 January 2025 11:22 PM

Is it really necessary to call for probes on public platforms?

1 1

Gune Friday, 03 January 2025 03:15 AM

This is an open secret, isn't it? They do not come to schools but go to tuition classes. They get good grades from tuition masters. Didn't you know about this? Those who can't afford tuition classes become destitute. Even though everyone boasts about SL free education, it is not free. Haven't you seen tuition masters parading AL students on their classes topping the subjects because of them?

1 3

Dr Tissa Fernando Friday, 03 January 2025 05:34 AM

At AL classes, government teachers do no real teaching. 100% of the students attend mass tuition classes so they see no point in coming to School unless they are participating in sports activities.

1 2

Victor Friday, 03 January 2025 06:32 AM

The PM is right, but the students are under a lot of pressure, from transport to books and other essentials. Even the subjects should be looked into at low grades. English is a must in in all schools.The government is new, and moving in the the right direction, it takes time.

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B P Friday, 03 January 2025 07:18 AM

Harini can get professional advice from "Tution Masters' Sansadhaya (Forum)" who formed it to support Anura and NPP at the two elections.

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Niran W Friday, 03 January 2025 07:55 AM

My own experience in the A Level grade is that students drop off school attendance alarmingly in the final term before exam to attend private tuition classes. This could be due to a perception that school teachers are incompetent or that private tutors deliver better results. Behind this is also the parents' push to have their children outdo others and obtain higher grades to enter local universities. A holistic view of 'education' is lacking. Rote learning is valued more than developing critical thinking.

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