The Hon. Kins Nelson

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I am pleased to have the opportunity to present views on the Ministry of Education as well as the university system.

¶ 02 In our higher education sector, while 176,661 students are pursuing university education, only a group of about 61,000 have access to hostel facilities. When they seek accommodation near their universities, parents must spend large sums monthly, Rs. 20,000–30,000 and more. Hon. Prime Minister, as the subject Minister with a sound understanding of universities, I trust you will allocate special attention in the Budget to provide accommodation facilities for university students.

¶ 03 In State universities, the approved cadre should be 29,425, yet there are around 7,000 vacancies. Sometimes even the university staff are compelled to deliver education with minimal facilities. Therefore, for our students in higher education, the Government must provide the maximum possible support and create a conducive environment.

¶ 04 In the school sector, the shortcomings are many: - 1,876 schools have no computers. - 707 schools lack O/L and A/L laboratory facilities. - 6,201 schools lack proper library facilities. - 2,993 schools have no playgrounds. In Nuwara Eliya District, 51% of schools have no playgrounds. I request special attention to address these deficits. We point them out so they can be rectified, and I trust you will act through your Ministry officials and teams.

¶ 05 In Polonnaruwa District, there are 254 schools, including 9 national schools. While we welcomed the recent elevation of national schools, the required equipment and buildings have not been provided. Simply putting up a wall, gate and a nice board does not make a national school. Please visit Polonnaruwa again; you have seen our faculties and the trilingual school now under construction. As we highlighted deficiencies in Parliament earlier, work is now progressing. I pray it will be opened this year under your hand.

¶ 06 Polonnaruwa needs 4,962 approved teachers and principals, but there are 1,181 vacancies. Teachers in English, Mathematics and Science are particularly scarce. There are 91 schools without computers, 151 without adequate sanitation, 51 without laboratories, 49 without adequate library facilities, and 34 without playgrounds. We understand you cannot fix everything in one Budget, and that you inherited a bankrupt country, but our goal is one.

¶ 07 Education is our ornament — the one possession no one can take. In Dimbulagala and Welikanda DS divisions, children face dangerous conditions even to reach school. In one incident in Dimbulagala, a mother accompanying her child to school was killed by an elephant in front of the school. Despite informing the Wildlife Department and all authorities, another attack occurred within a week. I trust you will pay special attention to Polonnaruwa in this regard.

¶ 08 Thopawewa National School in Polonnaruwa has over 1,500 students. Though the building for a computer lab exists with capacity for 40 computers, there is not a single computer. For A/L, there are no teachers to teach Bioscience, Mathematics, Commerce, or Political Science. How is this a national school? Teachers do not remain because there are no teacher quarters despite being in a town.

¶ 09 At Wilayaya National School in Dimbulagala DS, repeated visits show the largest problem is elephant attacks because the school is on a large tract of land. They request an elephant fence along the surrounding reserves or around the school. Around 2,200 students study there. Although English medium exists, there are no teachers for subjects like Mathematics and Science in English. Please provide teachers to sustain English medium there.

¶ 10 At Ellehara Mahasen National School, with about 1,800 students and many achievements in music and dance, they request an auditorium for aesthetic training. The approved 13 non-academic posts have only three in place; six office assistants needed but only one present. There are no teacher quarters, sanitation or drinking water facilities, so teachers do not stay. The playground is across the Mahiyanganaya–Dambulla main road; 200–300 children cross to participate in sports. A footbridge could be provided for safety, since the ground cannot be relocated.

¶ 11 Another major issue is the 18% VAT on school supplies. I proposed earlier that we open bookshops in State schools to sell books at concessionary prices, and remove VAT on school supplies as pledged in your policy statements. Even if not feasible in this Budget, please provide free books later for our schoolchildren.

¶ 12 We remember the student insurance that once existed. I believe during Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s tenure it was removed immediately upon taking office. I request the Hon. Prime Minister to reinstate that insurance, which was a great strength to parents when children were injured or ill. Thank you for the opportunity.