Rural-urban education gap must end - President

With regard to education, the gap between the rural and urban must end. The rural must get the same education opportunities that urban children enjoy. We are committed in bringing equal education opportunities to the villages, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

He was speaking at the Mahinda Rajapaksa auditorium in Wellawaya this week after distributing school items among children.

The President stressed that the Government never reduced budgetary allocations for education since the Government has clearly understood the value of education.

The country will develop only when the village develops. It must get electricity. Previously, only 5% of Wellawaya had electricity.

But now 80% of the population has electricity, the President said.

He added that these areas have been developed not only through the provision of education opportunities and infrastructure but also through the expansion of industries.

‘That is why Deyata Kirula exhibition is brought to this area. We are able to see the talents of the people and children of the villages.’

The President handed over 1,000 study packs for 1,000 students in the Wellawaya education zone.

Each study pack contains study material, shoes, socks and many other school items. A pack costs Rs 3,000. The Muttaiah Muralitharan Foundation has funded the program.

Uva Province Chief Minister Sashendra Rajapaksa, Minister Jagath Pushpakumara and cricketers Muttaiah Muralitharan and Pramodya Wickramasinghe also participated.

Student community can play a vital role in country’s development drive - President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Thursday stressed the importance of integrating the student community who fail to enter State Universities into the country’s development drive.

The President was speaking at the inauguration of the Diri Uda programme at Kalutara.

He said only one-fifth of the students who sit for the Advanced Level Examination qualify for university entrance and emphasised the need for an effective mechanism to integrate the failures as well as the successes into the country’s development drive.

President Rajapaksa added that the schoolchildren are facing unnecessary competition from the time they enter school.

“The parents are in the habit of preparing them for the Year Five Scholarship Examination since they enter schools and this has placed additional burdens on them.”

He said children are under stress as they are always influenced by their parents to focus more attention on studies for the sake of acquiring higher marks at the Grade Five Scholarship Examination.

This stiff competition has deprived the freedom of children for extracurricular activities including sports. He was of the opinion that parents should get rid of this mind set and pay equal attention on the children’s mental and physical wellbeing. Parents should also admire the talents and achievements of their children and this type of admiration will help develop their personality, he added.

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena, Transport Minister Kumara Welgama, Ports and Aviation Deputy Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena and Western Provincial Minister Jagath Angage were also present.