Education Minister calls for report on sex-ed book

• Education Ministry to evaluate book, decision likely in first week of Jan.
• Dullas says decision to halt distribution of books taken before 16 Nov.
• Education Publication Dept. made decision to recall all books

By Nuwan Senarathna

Education Minister Dullas Alahapperuma yesterday said his Ministry would look into concerns raised on the textbook titled ‘Hathe Ape Potha’ and make the final decision on whether it will be circulated by the first week of January.

Alahapperuma told Daily FT that he had instructed the Education Publication Department to submit a report on the controversial grade seven text book by 3 January. The directive was given after a well-known Buddhist monk raised concerns on the text book and alleged it was corrupting the minds of children. 

“A religious leader had raised concerns on the content of the book alleging it was not appropriate for school students. Therefore, I have called for a report to find out whether the book is not suitable for students,” Alahapperuma said.

He pointed out that the distribution of the book aimed at improving sex education among students was halted by the Education Publication Department. The decision to halt the distribution of the book was taken by the Education Publication Commissioner, Alahapperuma noted.

“This was something that happened before the Presidential Election. The Education Publication Commissioner General had taken his decision before the Election. Therefore it was not a decision taken under my purview,” he added.

The Education Publication Commissioner General W.M. Jayantha Wickramanayaka in writing informed all school principals and text books distribution centres to halt issuing the book to school children on 8 November. “I informed to not to distribute the text book titled ‘Hathe Ape Potha’. The books were thus recovered from students, and the books kept in schools without being distributed to students should be submitted to the Education Publication Department lorries that will come to schools,” Wickramanayaka stated in letter. A group of people, including Medagoda Abeytissa Thero, held a media briefing claiming the controversial textbook was not suitable for students, insisting that it could “pollute children’s minds”.

However, Alahapperuma stressed the Buddhist monk’s claims did not affect the Education Publication Commissioner General’s decision to halt the books’ distribution.