NE Provincial English Day held in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 October 2003, 17:02 GMT]
Twenty years of civil war and displacement have severely affected the educational standards of the Northeast province, said Mr.R.Thiagalingam, the North East Provincial Education Ministry Secretary, addressing the provincial English Day celebrations in Trincomalee Tuesday evening at the St.Joseph's College auditorium.

The general level of educational achievements in the province has declined to a considerable extent due to displacement of people, destruction of school buildings, shifting of schools and psychosocial effects of war on children, said Mr.Thiagalaingam.

Only 20.1 percent of the Northeast students who sat for the GCE Ordinary Level examination last year have passed and nearly eighty percent failed, he said.

A majority of the schools in the Northeast province are functioning without a single English teacher. About 2000 vacancies for English language teachers exist in Tamil medium schools; the vacancies figure for the Sinhala medium schools is 183, he said.

Teachers of other subjects are expected to teach English to primary students but most of them have no basic knowledge of English, he added.

Provincial Director of Education Mr.S.Mahalingam, who presided over the celebrations, said that only 1250 English teachers currently serve in Northeast schools but the cadre is for more than 3000 teachers. "Amid this acute shortage of permanent English teachers, we have managed to hold the English Day this year with remarkable success with the help of about 900 part time English teachers, " he said.

Deputy Director of Education Mr. Mahendran made the welcome speech. Mr. Mahalingam released the English Day souvenir by handing over the first copy to Mr.Thiagalaingam.

St Joseph's College band was in attendance when the provincial English Day celebrations commenced in Trincomalee Tuesday


The Assistant Director of Education (English), Ms. F.Iqbal, delivered the appreciation of the souvenir. Assistant Director of Education and the secretary of the organizing committee, Mr. G.A.Francis, proposed the vote of thanks. Ms. Hemantharanee Thiagalingam gave away the prizes and certificates.

Batticaloa district emerged provincial champion with 121 points in the provincial level competitions held for two days Monday and Tuesday in Trincomalee, sources said. The Jaffna district was second with 115 points and the Trincomalee district was third with 73 points, sources said.

Chief Guest Mr.Thiagalingam speaking while ( L-R ) Assistant Director of Education Mr.G.A.Francis, Deputy Director of Education Mr.V.Mahendran,Assistant Director of Education Mr.Jayaweera, Batticaloa zonal director Mr.M.Pavalakanthan, Additional Provincial Director of Education Mr.V.Rasiah and Provincial Director of Education Mr.S.Mahalingam are seated behind




Ms. Hemantharanee Thiagalingam gives away prizes to winners