Nalanda Prefects given valuable training

A Leadership and Personality Development training module was conducted at Nalanda College under the auspices of the Old Boys Association for the school’s prefects. This training was arranged as a residential programme within the college premises on September 30 and October 1.

The programme was initiated by the OBA, as suggested by the Principal Thilak Waththuhewa. The necessity of such a training programme was organised in order to refresh the mindset of the prefects and underscore the importance of the role of a school prefect. Further, the disruption and irregularity in continuing with academic work during the past two years due to the Covid pandemic was also indicated as a contributory factor in initiating such a training programme. 

The key note speech was delivered by the Principal, who explained the objectives and the desired outcome at a modest opening ceremony. At the programme efforts were made to discuss what a student would achieve by being appointed as a prefect. Also discussed were topics such as Leadership from a prefects’ perspective, team work and team building, Personality development, Emotional Intelligence and Psychology of leadership and social etiquette.

The methodology of training was by plenary sessions and outdoor activity. All the resource personnel were past prefects who were at the helm in different eras at Nalanda. The training was correlated with their real time management experiences. Further during the sessions, it was stressed to the prefects that the learnings and leadership experiences gained as a school prefect will immensely help them in their successful career/personality development later in life. The resource personnel were Justice Sobitha Rajakaruna, Varuna Ratneweera, Thusantha Nakandala, Lt Col Venura Dissanayake and the writer. The programme was concluded with the parents joining in during the final session that elaborated on the schools’ expectations of prefects and how students will benefit from added charisma and personality development by serving as prefects. The importance on the need for a strong relationship with the school staff and understanding the role of a prefect were also explained to the parents. A

well-illustrated hand out describing a prefects’ role, was shared with the parents. In addition a quick pocket reference ten-point guide was also distributed to the prefects to carry with them at all times to remind them of their obligations when performing duties as prefects. As per the feedback received the program has refreshed/enriched the mindset of the prefects and crystalized the objective richly. Each Prefect who participated was awarded with a certificate on the training that was conducted by the Principal Mr. Thilak Waththuhewa and the resource personnel.

(The writer is the Past Executive President OBA and the Former Ambassador to Afghanistan and Former Air Force Commander)