Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena says according to the information revealed to him in the letters, phone calls he receives and during some discussions, it is evident that some teachers harass and unfairly treat students while the excellence and quality of the teacher student relationships are evident in some others.
President Sirisena states that many details have been reported regarding harassment and unfair treatment to students by some teachers.
Participating in a function held in Wayamba National college of Education in Bingiriya on Wednesday (23) President Sirisena said that the authorities should immediately pay attention to these transgressions.
Explaining the difference between the era when the teaching was considered as a service and more than merely a profession and the present era where teaching is considered just a profession, the President said that teaching is considered the greatest of all professions as it holds the complete responsibility of building a nation and the future of the country and it is not second to any other profession.
President Sirisena mentioned that according to the surveys done it has been revealed that out of the total 250,000 teachers in service about eight to nine percent of teachers are not eligible for the profession and it is not because they lacked qualifications but it is due to their weaknesses shown in terms of respect, dedication, skill and ability to their service.
The weaknesses that are evident in the teaching service, government service and political arena should be removed as a nation marching towards success, said the President. He said that the reputation and dignity of any field is secured due to the character and good image that these professionals display.
Fulfilling a promise given to students when he participated in the State Vesak festival held at Bingiriya Devagiri Rajamaha Viharaya on 28th of April 2018 when his plane landed at the stadium of Wayamba National College of Education, he made financial allocations to provide a water purification system and constructions were completed with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Navy.
The President vested the new water purification system with the students by providing the necessary solution to the severe water problem the students of the Wayamba National College of Education, which was started in 2000, had to face for nearly 20 years.
Later he presented certificates to the students with outstanding performances.
Ministry of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Chief Minister of North Western Province, Dharmasiri Dassanayake, MP Nalin Bandara, Chairman of SLFP Youth Front, former Deputy Minister Shantha Bandara, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe, North Western Provincial Education Officers, teachers, and others were present on this occasion.
