Colombo, April 2 - President Ranil Wickremesinghe led a comprehensive discussion at the Presidential Secretariat today to address the ed...
Colombo, April 2 - President Ranil Wickremesinghe led a comprehensive discussion at the Presidential Secretariat today to address the educational challenges faced by Muslim schools in the Colombo region.
The meeting assembled a diverse group of stakeholders, including Minister Ali Sabry, school principals, and representatives from various educational organizations. The participants delved into several critical issues affecting Muslim schools in the area.
Key challenges highlighted during the discussion encompassed the lack of teaching staff, insufficient infrastructure, including limited classroom space, difficulties in delivering Islamic education in the Sinhala language, and a noticeable absence of schools in Muslim-dominated areas.
Minister Ali Sabry emphasized the severity of the situation by highlighting a stark imbalance in educational facilities. He pointed out that Kalutara boasts around 70 Muslim schools, whereas Colombo only has approximately 19. This disparity has contributed to a higher dropout rate in Colombo, leading to broader social implications within the community and affecting the nation as a whole.
In response to these pressing concerns, President Wickremesinghe took immediate action. He instructed officials from the Ministry of Education and the Urban Development Authority to conduct comprehensive investigations and furnish detailed reports on the identified challenges. A particular focus was placed on addressing the shortage of teachers proficient in delivering Islamic education in Sinhala, which impacts around 40,000 students studying in the Sinhala medium.
Additionally, the meeting highlighted the absence of Muslim schools in specific Colombo areas, limiting students' access to quality education. To tackle this issue, the President directed Urban Development Authority officials to explore potential sites for relocating schools to more suitable locations.
The discussion also spotlighted the hurdles hindering the construction of new school buildings funded by donors to alleviate space constraints. Principals and organization representatives voiced concerns about the acute shortage of approximately 200 teachers across the 19 Muslim schools in Colombo and emphasized the urgent need to address this pressing issue.
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