Hon. (Dr.) V.S. Radhakrishnan

¶ 01 The number of teacher trainees is 10,600. They are currently undergoing training in teacher training colleges. There are eight training colleges, with nearly 1,000 teacher trainees among them.

¶ 02 During the Good Governance government, the “Nearest School is the Best School” programme was launched to develop schools. Although substantial funds were allocated, many works remain unfinished. In many schools, work has started and is nearing completion, but it must be expedited. During Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s tenure, work was delayed. Therefore, we expect you to accelerate these tasks under your administration.

¶ 03 During former President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s time, 3,400 assistant teachers were appointed to estate sector schools. Under Mahinda Rajapaksa, 3,500 assistant teachers were appointed. During the Good Governance government, 3,196 assistant teachers were appointed, and Cabinet approval was obtained to recruit a further 2,500 teachers for estate schools. However, this was halted due to a court case. I believe the Hon. Prime Minister is aware of this. I request the Hon. Minister to take steps to release these appointments quickly. There is also an issue about defining “Tamil-medium schools.” In the past, it was stated that the appointments were for Tamil-medium schools; now, if you say Tamil schools, that will include Muslim schools as well. If you base appointments on “Tamil schools” rather than “Tamil-medium,” there will be no problem. I request that these appointments be granted on that basis.

¶ 04 In the past, Rs. 2,550 million was allocated for estate education development. Of this, Rs. 250 million was allocated to selected schools—25 schools chosen to develop science and mathematics A/L streams because estate students lacked A/L facilities. Hon. Minister, I will provide you the list of those schools. If you further develop them, more students from the estate areas will have the opportunity to enter university.

¶ 05 At present, only 0.5% of students from estate areas enter university, down from 1.5% previously. Action must be taken to increase this number. That requires improved A/L performance, which in turn requires increasing the number of graduate teachers. Most Tamil-medium schools in estate areas lack graduate teachers. When I was State Minister of Education, I considered bringing teachers from India, but it was opposed by the JVP at that time. Now you must implement what you opposed.

¶ 06 On National Tamil Language Day: under the Good Governance administration, it was celebrated as a national event, presided over by President Maithripala Sirisena, held in Jaffna, Matale, and Kandy. I request you to continue this, and the Deputy Minister from Nuwara Eliya should also take an interest.

¶ 07 The NPP government has allocated Rs. 271,000 million to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education in the 2025 Budget—this is welcome. Of this, Rs. 242,722 million is domestic financing and Rs. 28,278 million foreign financing. We expect the Hon. Minister to use these funds to effectively develop education.

¶ 08 Rs. 1,083 million has been allocated to teacher colleges and training institutes; Rs. 2,836 million to National Colleges of Education. However, there are building, furniture, and staffing shortages. Please direct funds to address these. Also, buildings for Tamil language training are half-completed; we expect their completion. Hon. Deputy Minister, the Kotagala Training College work is partly halted; I expect you to oversee and complete it.

¶ 09 Similarly, Rs. 50 million has been allocated to provide sanitation and water to all schools, yet 424 schools lack toilets and/or drinking water. We expect you to attend to these.

¶ 10 Nationwide, 1,876 schools lack computer facilities; by province, Western 392, Uva 128, Sabaragamuwa 317. In line with the President’s policy of digitalization, schools must be provided computers. We have long requested a university in the hill country; although universities such as Peradeniya, Uva Wellassa, and Sabaragamuwa are located nearby, we propose establishing a university college in the hill country with programmes representing Tamil interests. Land has been allocated; if you include this proposal in the next budget, we would welcome it.

¶ 11 The Mahapola Scholarship allocation was Rs. 2,600 million last year and increased to Rs. 4,600 million this year—this is encouraging.

¶ 12 With Indian assistance, about Rs. 300 million has been allocated this year to upgrade nine estate schools in Central, Uva, and Southern Provinces. We ask to work further with India to develop many schools.

¶ 13 Under “Nearest School is the Best School,” construction has been delayed; Rs. 5,250 million has been allocated to complete works—commendable. The Hindu College construction in Colombo is nearing completion; we laid its foundation, and you may get the opportunity to declare it open, which will benefit students.

¶ 14 India has allocated significant funds to establish ‘smart’ classrooms in estate schools; you have reflected this in the Estimates. We expect you to implement these with Indian support. The interest subsidy for student laptops has been reduced from Rs. 8 million to Rs. 5 million; this should be increased to help students buy computers. Laptops are essential for university students; please increase this allocation and implement the programme.

¶ 15 Rs. 2,500 million has been allocated to provide school shoes to students in difficult areas, up from Rs. 1,350 million last year—welcome. However, you have limited distribution to schools with fewer than 300 students. Many poor students study in schools with over 1,000 students; please ensure they also receive shoes via your scheme.

¶ 16 In 599 small schools, only 53,923 children received shoes; 145,230 students did not. Many poor students in national schools also need support. Obtain income certificates through Grama Niladharis to distribute to the needy.

¶ 17 For school stationery, Rs. 6,000 was recently granted, but again limited to schools with under 300 students. In 646 estate schools, only 66,679 students benefited. Poor students also exist in larger schools; adopt the income-based approach via Grama Niladharis here as well.

¶ 18 Due to economic hardship, school dropouts have increased. According to Education Ministry data of 2024-12-06, dropouts number 50,345; in Nuwara Eliya alone, 2,754. I have details to submit to the Minister if required.

¶ 19 Classrooms often lack adequate space. One classroom now holds around 40 students; rooms should provide sufficient area per child, but many older buildings are undersized. Please rectify this.

¶ 20 Hon. Chairman: Hon. Member, you have another two minutes.

¶ 21 Is that all? Please give me five more minutes.

¶ 22 When I was a Deputy Minister during Good Governance, in 2016 we introduced the “Suraksha” insurance scheme for schoolchildren. It has since been abandoned. The Hon. President has pledged in this Budget to re-implement “Suraksha.”

¶ 23 Most Zonal Education Directors are Sinhala-speaking officers; I kindly request that Assistant Directors be appointed from among Tamil officers in such areas.

¶ 24 There is a severe shortage of subject advisors; please address this.

¶ 25 The government has pledged to eradicate corruption. We welcome that. All governments must act against corruption in schools. Corruption methods have changed: principals and teachers now solicit funds “in kind” or via specified shops and persons under the guise of school development donations. This too is corruption; please take action to stop it.

¶ 26 In the last Parliament, as Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, we prepared for education reform and to introduce a school nutrition programme. Reconsider those and implement if appropriate, or discard if not.

¶ 27 India has long assisted education nationally and in the estate sector; this time too India has provided support for education development. I extend special thanks to the Government of India and the Indian High Commissioner. Our committee also submitted recommendations for education reform; if suitable, please implement them. We cannot blame the government yet—this is your start. By next year’s Budget, if not delivered, we can level criticism. With that, I conclude. Thank you.

¶ 28 [10.26 a.m.]