M. N. Ranasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Education says that the education sector as a whole is more difficult to manage in the face of the economic crisis than in the Covid situation.
Accordingly, it has to be entered into a very serious and complex process in the field of education, he said at the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) recently (15).
He was speaking at a meeting of the Copa Committee chaired by Prof. Tissa Vitarana to look into the future plans of the education sector in the wake of the Covid situation and the economic crisis.
Officials from the Ministry of Education, the National Institute of Education, the Department of Examinations, the Department of Education Publications and the University Grants Commission were summoned to this special meeting.
The Secretary pointed out that the inability to cover the curriculum in the limited time available due to the inability to hold school on the scheduled days, the existing fuel shortage, the economic hardship of the children’s families, the loss of jobs to the parents etc. are becoming a serious problem.
The officials pointed out that although teaching is done through online technology, there are various difficulties in the rural areas and the long term implementation of the online method in the learning process is not a successful method for the students.
The Secretary said that another major problem is the inadequacy of funds previously allocated to the Ministry of Education in the context of the economic crisis and in addition to government sources, funds from projects such as UNICEF, ADB and the World Bank, which are to be received from other institutions, will be restructured and used to implement priority programs.
The Committee also paid special attention to the need to limit the scope of the syllabus applicable to the examination in a situation where it is not possible to cover the entire syllabus due to having limited number of school.days. Otherwise, the committee pointed out, children as well as teachers would be under severe pressure.
It was also revealed that the learning loss of students is estimated to be 54% by 2020 and 88% by August 2021.
In such a situation, the committee emphasized the need for the Department of Examinations to prepare question papers in a manner that would not be unfair to the students during the examinations considering the relevant learning loss.
The committee recommended that a policy decision be taken in this regard in coordination with the National Institute of Education, the Ministry of Education and the Department of Examinations.
It was also revealed that due to the existing transportation difficulties, a system of temporary attachment of children to the nearest school is being prepared and it is expected to be implemented until December 31 this year.
Despite all the difficulties, the Committee commended the Commissioner General of Examinations and all other officials for conducting the National Examinations, including the GCE Ordinary Level, in a proper manner. The Committee also commended the education authorities, including all teachers, for their efforts in maintaining the education sector in the face of the Covid situation and the economic crisis.
The current Covid situation and the current economic crisis and the problems in the university system were also discussed. Officials said that in the face of difficulties such as fuel and gas shortages, university students would be called in for further practical tests and lectures would be conducted online.
The Committee recommended to the University Grants Commission to reconsider and draw up plans for the effective implementation of the $ 100 million World Bank-funded project in the face of the recurring crisis.
Members of Parliament Hon. Dayasiri Jayasekara, Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Hon. Mohamed Muzammil, Hon. Tissa Attanayake, Hon. (Dr.) Sudarshani Fernandopulle, Hon. Sivagnanam Sritharan, Hon. Prasanna Ranaweera, Hon. Harini Amarasooriya, Hon. Weerasumana Weerasinghe, Hon. (Dr.) Upul Galappaththi was also present at the occasion.
