Brain drain happening in the face of challenges is a sign of weakness.

             –  The Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha

The Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha says that a definitive and main role is assigned to the teachers in order to achieve fully the challenge of “Quality and equal education” the fourth goal of the 17 sustainable development goals within the new transformative educational process. The minister stated this while addressing the “Guru Prathibha Prabha” function held at the Ministry of education with the leadership of the minister for honoring the teachers and principals.  

Further expressing his ideas at this occasion, the minister reminded the responsibility of the intellectuals who are the end result of the free education system for the purpose of obviating brain drain which has been a contemporary challenge in all sectors. He further said that the intelligence of the educated people is with some deficiency because they are the major beneficiaries of free education and had been enjoying the higher social privileges and leaving the country at a difficult period. Their responsibility is not to leave the country at such a moment but to stay in the country and show their expertise to face the challenges. In the process of creating a generation of children with such qualities and skills within an education system connected with the new STEAM education method where the theoretical knowledge turns into practicality with the modular activities in the classroom, the role of the graduate teachers with knowledge and trained skills is extremely important, he said. Mr. Susil Premajayantha said that the university of education which will be created by amalgamating all 19 colleges of education will be a center for achieving those objectives.          

Within the work load of providing the present generation of children with the opportunities not to be lost in the future world of digitalization, the attention has been drawn to supply mid-day meal, text books and uniforms etc. necessary for maintaining the proper teaching learning process in the schools and also to develop the building facilities as far as possible, said the minister at this occasion. The minister also emphasized the importance of improving the productive level of the teachers above all the others. 

The minister also said that actions will be taken in the near future to provide solutions to the problems in the education system including the teachers’ salaries according to a certain method complying with the economy of the country and he expressed his gratitude to the teachers and principals specially those who are complying with the present educational transformative process and provide their support. 

At this honorary function  for teachers organized by the Ministry of Education in line with the World Teachers Day falling on 5^th of October, 21 principals and 70 teachers from 26 schools who contributed a yeoman service to the student community with understanding about various problems prevailing at school level and solving them while being sensitive to the developmental situations, were presented with honorary awards. A gathering of people including the State Ministers Wijitha Berugoda and Aravind Kumar, the Secretary of Education Mr. M.N. Ranasingha, education officers, teachers and principals were present at this occasion.