The Hon. Mayilvaganam Jegatheeswaran

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I am proud to participate in today’s debate on the motion to postpone business regarding the historic education reform.

¶ 02 The reform is based on five main pillars, with many positives included. Yet the Opposition cherry-picks issues and presents them in obscene ways here. I wish to highlight a key feature: each year, about 300,000 students newly enter schools. By the time they reach G.C.E. O/L, around 200,000 leave without achieving an O/L pass or vocational education, showing no progression and exiting empty-handed. As a former teacher, I lamented this and longed for reform.

¶ 03 Each year only about 100,000 progress to higher education, while around 200,000 drop out midstream. In the new reforms, from Grade 9 we have incorporated vocational education options. Thus, even if they do not pass O/L, students can acquire some form of vocational education and build a proper future. Especially economically, this reform offers pathways to progress.

¶ 04 We will establish vocational labs in schools. There may be planning shortcomings; we must correct them and carry the reform forward. Both Government and Opposition have a responsibility to identify and address issues constructively. However, a minor error in the Grade 6 English module was blown up to confuse Grade 5 leavers and their parents, who lack context. Instead of highlighting the many good aspects, the Opposition sensationalized, sowing confusion. Parents and students have not been confused by the content itself; rather, such politicized narratives on matters like colours associated with LGBT identities were used to plant divisive ideas in impressionable minds.