Education system producing misfits

November 13, 2011, 9:57 pm, The Island

by Maheesha Mudugamuwa

The present education system should be changed as it was producing more Arts graduates than required, Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa said.

He said that the G.C.E (A/L) science and mathematics streams should be introduced to all schools. The government should create programmes that would encourage students to study for careers in science and technology.

The goal should be to improve student academic performance in maths, science and technology courses, while giving them the tools they need to build lasting professional careers in the 21st-century, knowledge-based economy, the Minister said.

Under the present education system, Weerawansa noted that a large number of graduates who were passing out of universities annually were Arts graduates, that was a pathetic situation as at there was no demand in the private sector, for them.

He added that reforms had been introduced to schools under the guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa with the aim of providing a solution to the issue of popular schools.

The Economic Development Ministry had allocated Rs. 20.6 million to develop sanitation facilities in 32 schools in the Kaduwela Divisional Secretariat division, he said.

Another Development projects would be implemented at a cost of Rs. 80.3 million in the Kaduwela Divisional Secretariat division. The government has also taken steps to uplift the education system and infrastructure facilities in 600 Schools country wide, he said.