The Hon. Gnanamuththu Srineshan

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, I will go straight to the debate. Quoting Nelson Mandela: “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” We must use that weapon to change our society.

¶ 02 On pre-schools: They lay the foundational and psycho-social base for learning; they prepare children for schooling. We must strengthen pre-schools. Teachers there receive meagre, irregular pay—often only LKR 4,000–7,000—with unstandardized teaching approaches. In developed countries, pre-school systems are strong. I urge the Education Ministry to assume full responsibility for pre-schools and strengthen them through the new reforms.

¶ 03 On vocational education in schools: After 12–13 years of schooling, students should not leave with just paper certificates; they must have skills to pursue trades—tailoring, watch repair, mobile phone repair, etc.—supporting self-employment after school.

¶ 04 On science and ICT: Rural hardship areas lack teachers in science, mathematics, and ICT. National Schools in cities are well-resourced while hardship-area schools suffer severe shortages. To achieve equity, we must bolster hardship-area schools with resources so that children can succeed irrespective of the school.

¶ 05 On Technical Colleges: In Manchanthoduvai, Batticaloa—a renowned agricultural area with farm training centers—the Technical College offers up to NVQ 4. It needs NVQ 5 and NVQ 6 diploma-level programs. The Director General of the Department of Technical Education and Training, S. C. Jagath, is supportive. Please provide lands and resources to upgrade.

¶ 06 On Meelad Tamil School in Dehiwala: The only Tamil-medium school in the Piliyandala zone, established in 1952, now operates on 23 perches with a single privately donated building—insufficient. About 120 students lack classroom space; total enrollment around 500; another 240 applications are pending. Please identify and allocate one of the proposed sites to expand; if land is given, private donors are ready to fund buildings.

¶ 07 Another matter: A school in Murakkettanchenei served as an army camp since 1990 and was recently released. The primary school needs reconstruction. Nearby 56 parental homes were lost and must be rebuilt. Though a housing issue, it directly impacts students—please coordinate to address both school and housing.

¶ 08 I have served 30 years as teacher, lecturer, and principal. I urge the Minister to launch a true educational revival, especially in hardship areas. Thank you.