President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday ordered officials to bring all international schools operating in the country under a regulatory mechanism. He stressed that the younger generation should not be led astray.
The President was speaking at the Education Ministry progress review meeting at the Ministry auditorium yesterday.
It was the first meeting chaired by the President at ministry level to review the progress of the programmes implemented by the respective ministries.
The President made this announcement when an official of the Education Ministry said that international schools have been registered under the Companies Act and these international schools are beyond their purview.
He stressed the importance of bringing new legislation to bring international schools under a regulatory arm. “This regulatory mechanism has to be implemented soon ,whoever raises opposition”. The President added that history, religion and the mother tongue have to made compulsory subjects to the students of International schools.
He said these students should learn of their religion, language and the country’s history. “There should be a single policy with regard
to religion, mother tongue and history subjects in all schools”, he said.
President Rajapaksa also said that some form of sport too has to be made compulsory in schools as most students suffer from some sort of depression due to lack of exercise to their bodies.
Education Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Jayaratne said a Cabinet Memorandum has been prepared for the compulsory allocation of time in schools for physical exercises. He said that new physical training instructors would be recruited to the Ministry to give children physical and theoretical knowledge to the students.
Economic Development minister Basil Rajapaksa, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena, Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage were also present.
[Source:- nydailynews]
