Batti schools criticized over merit admissions to universities

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 18 May 2004, 00:02 GMT]
Though the Eastern University has been making efforts to increase the number of students from the Batticaloa district who would be admitted on merit, the University has not received the cooperation it needs from schools, teachers and parents, said the Vice Chancellor of the university, Dr. S. Ravindranath, speaking at a function organized by the Batticaloa Educational Development Committee at the Methodist Central College hall Sunday evening.

Private tuition classes for students are meant only for making them better understand the subjects taught at schools. But in the Batticaloa district, students and parents give priority to tuition classes over school education. This reflects the shortcoming of the teachers in schools, said Dr. Ravindranath.

Mr. K. Thambiah, the head of the Economics department at the University, said in his speech that teachers in schools do not complete the syllabus and do not grade the term papers,

An Education department official and some teachers attending the function were of the opinion that private tuition classes should be expanded. Most of the participants criticized them, arguing that as teachers and officials they should take every effort to strengthen the education provided in schools.

In the end, a committee was formed to improve the number of merit students from the district. The committee, consisting of intellectuals, teachers, officials and parents, will research the issues affecting the students and take action to develop educational achievement in the region.