Mangala says no opportunity for creativity in education system

Minister of Finance and Mass Media Mangala Samaraweera on Thursday stated that there is no room for creativity in the private class-based education system in the country.

He said that through the present education system, the children do not get the opportunity to think outside the frame and be creative other than enter the university after studying like slaves.

Minister Mangala Samaraweera made this observation inaugurating the Spark 2018 – Innovation exhibition at the Royal College in Colombo together with State Minister of Finance Eran Wickramaratne.

The Minister also launched Royal TV – the first TV channel by school students in South Asia at the Spark 2018 Innovation exhibition, which gives the students an opportunity to bring their imaginations to life.

Expressing his views further, Minister Samaraweera said the private-class based education system has a very limited space for innovative design ideas.

“Every child attends school as a slave until he goes to the university. There is no room for any new ideas. There’s no chance of thinking outside that frame. That’s the biggest problem we’ve ever faced. But Sri Lanka is a country that has created internationally known intellectuals. There are 16 Sri Lankan scientists in NASA alone,” the Minister said.

“Therefore, the most important thing is not to forget about fulfilling obligations even though you receive education abroad,” he added.

“Countries such as Singapore, India, and Korea that were behind us in the past have won the world. Sri Lanka who was the brightest student in the class is in the back now. The country, which was ahead of the other countries in the region at that time, is behind now due to our divisions. The country, which fought to obtain independence setting aside racial and religious divisions, split after becoming independent.”

He pointed out that although Singapore was a multi-ethnic country, it was able to form one nation. However, Sri Lanka still could not build a Sri Lankan identity.

The Minister also joined an interactive discussion with the students where they asked about the Government’s plan to assist innovators, rupee devaluation, the education system, etc. Responding to a question asked by a student, the Minister said the strengthening of the dollar is not only a situation affecting Sri Lanka but the entire world economy. “Sri Lanka rupee has depreciated by about 8%. The solution to this is not to strengthen the rupee by force. This emphasises Sri Lanka’s need to embark on an export based economy,” the Minister said.

State Minister of Finance Eran Wickramaratne and Principal of Royal College B.A. Abeyratne were also present.