Hon. M.S. Abthul Wazeeth

¶ 01 In the Committee Stage debate on allocations for the Ministries of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, I thank you for the opportunity.

¶ 02 Among areas in the Eastern Province that have produced renowned educationists, Pottuvil is very important. Geographically, it is in the far southeast, distant from other centres. It is a matter of concern that students finishing school here have no nearby opportunities for higher education. There is no university campus, no university college, no technical college, no teachers’ training college. Even a regional study centre of the Open University is absent. Because educational institutions are organized regionally without considering geography, areas like Pottuvil face severe difficulties. In this government’s time, a regional study centre of the Open University in Pottuvil should be established so students from Pottuvil, Thirukkovil, Panama and Komari can directly benefit. We have confidence in you to deliver such opportunities.

¶ 03 Centred on Arugam Bay — world-renowned for tourism — if the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management of the South Eastern University is located in Pottuvil, it will add value to tourism education. Hon. Minister of Education, I ask you to consider these two proposals in higher education and transform our region into one with higher educational opportunities.

¶ 04 The ongoing education reform is welcome. Administrative reform is also necessary. But before administrative restructuring, Pottuvil’s long-standing request for a separate Zonal Education Office should be addressed. This is not merely a building request; it is a heartfelt two-decade appeal on behalf of thousands of students, hundreds of teachers and our multi-ethnic population.

¶ 05 Previously, the divisions of Pottuvil, Kinniya and Komarankadawala functioned with financial handling powers. In 2008, Kinniya and Komarankadawala were upgraded to zones. Pottuvil, however, was not upgraded and even lost its financial handling powers.

¶ 06 The purpose of education is national unity and building harmony among ethnic groups. Yet in Pottuvil, schools are segregated by ethnicity: Muslim schools attached to Akkaraipattu Zone, Tamil schools to Thirukkovil Zone, Sinhala schools to Ampara Zone. Within a one-kilometre area, a Muslim school belongs to Akkaraipattu Zone, the adjacent Tamil school to Thirukkovil Zone, and the nearby Sinhala school to Ampara Zone. Why split them into three zones when they are within one kilometre? If all Muslim, Tamil and Sinhala schools within the Pottuvil and Lahugala Divisional Secretariats are geographically grouped and a separate Zonal Education Office is established in Pottuvil, students and teachers of all three communities will benefit. In 2008 we requested this separate zone for Pottuvil; to date it has not been granted, while many other zones have been created in the interim. How is that fair?

¶ 07 Today, Sinhala schools in Pottuvil have to go 70 km to Ampara Zone for services; Muslim schools travel 45 km to Akkaraipattu Zone; Tamil schools 35 km to Thirukkovil Zone. If a zonal office is established in Pottuvil, all three communities’ schools will benefit and receive closer supervision. The present distances hinder guidance and oversight, affecting long-term educational outcomes. Beyond politics, as a father of a student studying in Pottuvil, I kindly request a separate Zonal Education Office for Pottuvil.

¶ 08 Pottuvil Central College is the only national school in the region and will celebrate its 75th anniversary next year. As an old boy, I extend my heartfelt wishes. It has become a school of strong community trust. I commend the Principal and teachers. Many teachers come from distant areas; an on-site teachers’ hostel would help them. A modern auditorium would strengthen co-curricular activities. There is an acute shortage of non-academic staff; the school with a large land area operates without permanent security staff. Please address this urgently.

¶ 09 Hon. Minister, I wish to present the need for establishing a PDCT (Professional Development Centre for Teachers) in Pottuvil. To improve education quality and ensure teachers’ professional growth, this is essential. Currently, teachers must travel 45 km to Thirukkovil, 65 km to Akkaraipattu, and 90 km to Ampara for development programmes — causing time loss, transport expenses and physical strain, reducing participation. A PDCT in Pottuvil will remove these barriers and increase participation.

¶ 10 There is persistent teacher shortage in the area. We must enhance the skills, knowledge and pedagogy of serving teachers to suit local contexts. A local PDCT can offer specialized training tailored to local needs, keep teachers updated on new methods and educational technology, and serve approximately 400 teachers with SBPTD (School-Based Professional Teacher Development) programmes. There are officers from the Sri Lanka Teacher Educator Service in the area, a resource for the centre. The PDCT will provide a platform to share best practices, exchange ideas and network, uplifting the entire educational community. When zones were divided regionally and ethnically in the past, Pottuvil was denied a fair share, including a teacher development centre. I trust you will consider this favourably.

¶ 11 Specific school needs: As‑Sadhiq Vidyalaya and Usmaniyya Vidyalaya have incomplete buildings that must be finished. At Al-Irfan Girls’ College, Darul Falah Vidyalaya and Al-Nooraniya Vidyalaya, space shortages should be addressed by constructing three-storey buildings. Al‑Mina Vidyalaya, Pottuvil Sinhala Maha Vidyalaya and Thulasi Vidyalaya need boundary walls. Akkaraipattu Ar-Raheemiya Vidyalaya needs land; nearby MPCS Limited has suitable land — I request that with the support of the Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Mr. Rasik and local intellectuals, this land be obtained and granted to the school. Varippathanchenai Al‑Ameen Maha Vidyalaya needs a prayer hall, auditorium and laboratory — funds were allocated in 2019. As‑Safa Vidyalaya needs a playground and boundary wall. At Navithanveli Al‑Hira Vidyalaya, a stage and fencing are needed; similarly for Ameer Ali Vidyalaya.

¶ 12 Non-academic staff in schools face many problems. For railway season tickets, PL-1 category should be granted first-class eligibility. Service record formats should be uniform across provinces. Promotions should occur regularly and in a proper, timely manner. Opportunities to serve should be available across all provinces, whether central or provincial.

¶ 13 Please, grant me 30 seconds. Despite many hardships, teachers in Pottuvil continue to educate students. I thank SLEAS officers Nafees Muhammed and Atheek; SLTES officers M.A. Tajahan, Salahudeen Aalim, Kamila Begum, Ameer Ali, Sameem, Padiyudeen, Basmin; principals and officers including M.A.M. Buhari, Hamza, Firdaus, Kaleel, Rafeek, Kareem, Saburdeen, Zihapdeen, Sahapdeen, Khalid, Ashraf, Ameerudeen, Rafeen, Abdul Hasan, Basheer, Rizwan, A.K. Rizwan, Siraj Aslam, Royal Bari, Abdul Rahim, Junaideen, and especially Rasheed and Majeed; and I remember with gratitude the principals Labib and Jawad who died in the 2010.08.18 accident, and Mohamed Leppai. With thanks, I conclude. Wassalam.