Ministry launches education development measures

THE Education Ministry has analyzed the various progressive measures taken by the Ministry to develop education during the recent past.

It stated that the development of infrastructure facilities in schools, uplift of teachers' services, strengthening of English education and improvement of teacher education are among the Ministry's development measures.

A major share of the Education Ministry budgetary provisions for 2005 were allocated to speed up modernisation, reconstruction and rehabilitation of schools, construct teachers' quarters in under privileged rural areas and to improve infrastructure facilities in National, Navoda and other schools, it said.

The revision of the Teachers' Service Constitution, the Sri Lanka Educational Administrative Service and the Principals' Service are nearing completion. Steps were taken to confirm in service, the voluntary teachers subject to certain definite criteria including the completion of three years service. Arrangements were also made to regularise teachers' annual transfers from 2005, the release said.

The Ministry has paid attention to strengthen English education. Re-opening of the Peradeniya English Teachers' College for teacher training activities, opening of English camps for teachers and students and expansion of English education throughout the entire educational system are some of the major steps taken by the Ministry, the release said.

It said the Ministry has paid special attention to improve teacher education. Reformation of curriculum in National Education Academies, implementation of continuous teacher education programs, Identification of needs of diploma holders passing out from the National Education Academies, and introduction of new subjects such as Information Technology, Aesthetics, French language and physical culture to the curriculum of National Education Academies are among the many measures taken to improve teacher education.