Education in English medium

[Dileepa]

I think it is absolutly important teach our young Sri Lankans in english medium. Mainly because at young age it is easier to learn such a complex language. Mind at a young age is more active and can grab hold of new language very easily. Of cause knowing two languages (english and singhalese)will allow to aquire more knowledge and ideas.  

[Piyal Guna]

Definitely! English is a must, if we do not realize it now, we Sri Lankan will never..  I do not know who are these 204 fools voted against the Survey of ‘Do you support the introduction of English medium education in Sri Lanka?’

Just for example, if I do not know English how can I participate in this discussion group? How can I browse the Internet? How can I write an email? How can I look for further study out of the Island? And there are many HOW.

So I suggest all our brothers and sisters don’t be narrow-minded like our politicians looking for only their own benefit and not the public.  Whether you go to school or not every person in our country learns his mother language Singhalese or Tamil.  Lets give them English as a medium for their education for a better prospects and future for our kids and not only for our ministers kids

[Aly]

Hats off to all those who voted "yes", we are heading towards a powerful electronic era where english is the universal language. without english there will be no future. we are not late...let's not do the same mistake what our past generation did to us, let us support the brave move and creat a bright younger generation who can compete the rest of the world.

[Gunawardana]

ENGLISH IS MUST!

[Fazli Sameer]

The idiots back home have now voted against the establishments of private Universities just because the JVP and some other radival Sinhala Only groups have voiced their protests.

When will we ever learn?

[Bassa]

Yes i'm for English medium too,

Ppl who usually say "No, Sinhala Medium only" are usually those that really don't care about our country. We have Sinhala Medium now, and what state is our country ppl in?

I'm proud to be a Sri Lankan, and i love to speak Sinhala, but without my English I wouldn't fare well even in Sri Lanka. That's a fact

Which Bank, Hospital, or any other professional sphere in Sri Lanka has a "Sinhala only" policy??? But we all want our children to grow up and become doctors and bankers and the list goes on..... what a paradox. Half the ppl who shout "Education only in Sinhala" either already have or plan to give their children an English education. They themselves know what hardships they faced..... they wouldn't want their children to face the same.... besides International schools aren't sufferring from any vacant seats either...... in fact it seems there are too less.

let me give you all a small example to think about: 

Lets assume that any small child is practically and theoretically eligible to become the president of Sri Lanka. Knowing only Sinhala he or she can manage to the top, i. e become the president. But what then?? Become the only Sinhala speaking president in a country once ruled by the British, or perhaps the only Sinhala speaking President after a whole line of English speaking Presidents?

You see certain Country leaders officially announce that they will conduct all their speeches, meetings and public appearences in their native languages as a principle and more importantly as a sign of respect to their nation and language, but not to suppress English.

Our presidents would feel shy to ask for a translator when talking to the UN, for example. Although a translator for the UN is not really a problem....... or any special cost..... for that matter

So the problem is really with us.... and not with English. I speak Sinhala, English, French, Russian and Arabic, so i find it 5 times more easier (if not more) to communicate with ppl.

Sri lankans have a very special gift that differentiates them from all Asians.... and that is their brain. The highest literacy rates for all Asia is still held by Sri Lanka. A sri lankan maybe new to a computer, but in no time at all, he or she will figure out how to use it. We sri lankans are also more adaptive than any other asian. But to much demise almost 70% of our brains work only to get the better of the other person, to bite the hand that feeds them.

So for all those who say "Sinhala Only" i suggest you fight "Fire with Fire" !!!!!!!! Want to waine off foreign control over Sri lanka - Learn English!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Most importantly....help our children...... teach them English

[wimal]

Well said Bassa.

I agree with all your poits.

[Fazli Sameer]

One thing I can say for certain about our chaps is that any Sri Lankan A level passed student can give hell to the so called "graduates" from India, Pakistan & Bangla Desh.

Yes, they may have millions of graduates but they aren't worth their salt in any way compared to any of ours. There's a big difference in the two systems even though we are all South Asian. Our standards are much higher and it is not easy for our chaps to get degrees as it is for them since they have thousands of universities and also use all kinds of unscrupulous means to achieve this.

We have a saying here in Saudi Arabia related to the Indians and Paki's that when they come for an interview they bring with them a whole briefcase filled with certificates and ask the employer what jobs are available before reaching into their documents to produce the right one for the job. This is as close to the truth that we can get with these neighbors of ours, sadly.

[wimal]

Fazli,  I agree with you but the world will not agree with you and it is difficult for the world to show that our standard of education is high, because the carrier demands are based on the educational qualifications.  Since our guys don't have the briefcase full of certificates they are not getting a fair opportunity in the job market.

However, I have seen many of our A level qualified staff are shining in their carrier, but it takes time to get there plus it is a luck too.

Yes, we need more higher education institutes, most importantly we need carrier based education system.  I don't know why a future professional Carpenter is studying Chemistry for 12 years in the school, instead he should study carpentry related education at least from Grade 8 or 10

[Bassa]

Hi Wimal, and Fazli...

I agree with Wimal about the Career based education System, BUT..... a carpenter should also have a notion of chemistry or physics or maths or geography for that matter.... It's build's up our General Knowledge database..... That's why Sri Lanakns are more SMARTER.... That's why we can adapt faster.

Chemistry would help a carpenter with the different chemicals he uses to coat or paint his wood items...

He would get a better understanding of how his tools work... as physics helps him to undertsand the laws of nature.

Maths would help him calculate his expenditure, and make furniture to the correct sizes 

Geography wolud help him to find the best location to get his wood.. (trees i mean)

C'mon wimal, you can't really think that without all this basic knowledge, a carpenter wouldn't be good at his job 

[wimal]

Bassa,  you may be correct but one should not spend 12 year studying for General Knowledge, particularly I am referring to maximum of our A level students study Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Zoology dreaming to be come a Doctor, but the true is everyone of them know that the chances of going to the university is very less, still they do continue and end-up as a Carpenter or any other carrier not related to his or her higher education.

Yes, they are smart because they have general knowledge, so what?  if they don't have a good carrier and life!

The education system should be setup to filter the students at grade 8 or 10 based on their interest, skill, knowledge etc, so that the rest of 6 or 4 years school education will be primarily focusing to their future job.

Every parents as well as studies wants to be an Engineer or Doctor, but the last result is a smart, knowledge individual looking for job in any trade but not what he studied or indented for.

Isn't it pity?

[Bassa]

Yes, you unevitably have a point there....

But at grade 8 or 10 how many percent of students would realize life so deep that they wouldn't want to try a shot to become a doctor, banker, engineer, lawyer, pilot...etc?

Unless he/she dreamt of being a carpenter... 

Try telling a student, who fares less in his studies .... "Son, you can't be the pilot you dreamed of becoming...... you better try something different.... how about CARPENTRY!!!!!"

I think you just made a bad carpenter.... (cos he'll always regret, that in life he never got the chance to try to become a plot)

Food for thought..... by Bassa

Bassa Over & Out 

[wimal]

Why to re-invent the wheel again? Sri Lanka should try to learn from other nations how they do it effectively; it is not only for education it is of everything, always better to learn from others.

Problem with our guys are trying to be unique! for what?

[Bassa]

Well isn't that something that we are proud of?

to be Sri Lankan... is to be Unique .....it's in our blood 

Trying not to be......would be reinventing the wheel ... 

[wimal]

Better to be unique on selectively, but not in everything.

Why we changed our country name many times?
Why we changed our Capital?
Why we keep on changing the street names?
Why we even changed our GMT timing?

There is other thing in the world to do and change, for better nations