Does Sri Lanka provide free education for all citizens equally….? If someone asks so definitely the answercould be nope. As we say in Sinhala “Colombata kiri Gamata Kekiri” the best opportunities are always waiting for the urbans. But is that fair …? Have to think twice …..// education and health is totally free in Sri Lanka, this free services are provided by the government by collecting taxes from the nation. Every lope of bread we consume , every liter of fuel we burn taxes are added to provide free education and health…..
Urban people , rural people both pay taxes similarly, though ……………………..?? yes though rurals are lack of their basic needs yet.., no point of arguing on this point that’s why we decided to conduct a small seminar program for the students who are in G.C.E O/L classes.
Mr Buddhika the president of student union of faculty of agriculture invited me and few other my colleagues to do the seminar program mentioned above. We accepted the invitation warmly, and try to find a school which actually requires our service. Meanwhile Mr Dhananjaya (secretary of peradeniya students union) said that lets begin the program from his school named Maneruwa Maha Vidyalaya.
The way to Maneruwa village was so hard to cross, there are only two buses from Dambulla to Maneruwa, if someone missed the bus he would wait until the next sun.
Our team was six in number , Mr Dhananjaya provided us accommodations, as the villagers heard the news of our arrival they’ve prepared meals for whole period which we were looking to stay there. Though Maneruwa is categorized as a very rural village she has the characteristic Rajarata beauty(Rajarata is the area which old Sinhala kingdoms were, ruled by kings specially in dry zone)
Maneruwa tank , and the paddy fields down there shows the pover of those villagers will, because it’s not an easy work to fight with the Earth.
Very first day of the seminar was come, all of us were transported to the school by Mr Dhananjaya. Mr Dhanapala the principal of the school warmly welcome us, we followed the principal to the main hall where was ready for the seminar. Grade 10 and 11 students (about 60) were there very silently waiting for us, actually I’d like to say that, we have also been in O/L classes when we school, but not with such a silent….. these brothers and sisters haven’t seen a university yet, thus they might try to seen it from us, that was how I realized their politeness.
First day was scheduled for maths, Madushanka conducted the lesson, with the help of PSU (peradeniya students union) all tutes were printed on A4 sheets and we distributed them among the students, I was surprised after heard what they said , “this is the first time that we got a question paper which is printed in an A4 sheet, after grade 5 scholarship)
They paid their full attention to us during the two days, but the sad thing was majority of the students very poor for maths and science. They don’t even know how to add minus numbers and plus numbers L L. Then we separated the class in to two groups and taught basic maths for one group and the tute was conducted for the other group. For these two days villagers highly appreciated us , they had prepared morning and evening tea for us extra to the meals.
In the next day I did the science paper, though these students lack of basic knowledge of maths they have the thinking power as mush as the best students. At the end of the seminar we gave two little gifts to two students who solves the summations given from the early lesson in each day. The principal and the venerable Thero gave presents to the students… J J
They didn’t forget to treat us with a song or two when both parties got tiered, and at the end of the seminar program we had a little discussion and intended them to enter to the university……………//
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| Mr Dhananjaya |
u should have let some of the girls to come too... that was very noble thing u guys did out there.... :)
ReplyDeletehttp://nickyta-nicky.blogspot.com/
try this too....
ahh it was a coincidence, toona just called us and told there is such a program would you come and help.... and nicky we didn't hope good accommodation facilities, that's why didn't inform you guys .... :) :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a good example for a true social service from university students. These are the things the media should give due recognition to the society. I was reading the story from the beginning and it was so true that the rural students are far less privileged, less treated, and less benefited even-though they have the same capabilities, potentials, and moral strengths. It does not mean the students from urban are not competitive. Same competitiveness can be achieved from rural students if they are well provided with good education like in most urban students.
ReplyDeleteWith such background it is a good move from pera students to organize this kind of good work for the students from such rural village.
we try to improve that program and we want your assistance.
ReplyDelete:) Any time
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