NorthEast teachers, principals felicitated on World Teachers Day

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 October 2005, 11:17 GMT]
131 teachers, 35 principals and 14 in-service advisors selected from all the twenty four education zones in the eight districts of the northeast province were felicitated for their services towards the development of education, at an event organized by the Provincial Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Colombo Ministry of Education and held Thursday at Trincomalee St.Mary's Girls College auditorium, sources said.

"The dedication and courage shown by teachers and education administrators of the province during the two decade old war in providing learning facilities to students without interruption should be openly recognized and commended," said NEPC Chief Secretary Mr.S.Rangarajah, Provincial Education Ministry Mr.R.Thiakalingam and Provincial Director of Education Mr.R.Vishalingam paying tribute to the recipients.

The recipients who were selected as Best Teacher, Best Principal based on a criteria formulated by the Colombo Ministry of Education were awarded with Medals and Certificates of Excellence signed by Sri Lanka's President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge as the Minister of Education.

About 26,000 teachers and principals are serving in about two thousand schools in the northeast province. About 181 teachers and principals have been selected for these awards. But several other qualified for such awards are among them and they will be felicitated in future, said Mr.V. Rasiah, Additional Provincial Director of Education in his welcome address.

Mr.R.Vishalingam presiding over the event said this year about four thousand teachers have been newly recruited in the northeast to ease shortage. "We cannot raise the standard of education by increasing the number of teachers but by teachers raising their teaching skill," said Mr.Visakalingam.

Mr.R.Thiakalingam, Provincial Education Secretary commended teachers and principals and education administrators serving in the northeast province for serving the students during war-period by conducting classes and educational activities.

The Chief Guest Mr.Rangarajah said the felicitation of best teachers and principals is a unique and sacred event." Teachers had borne the brunt of war and other difficulties and discharged their duty to maintain the standard of education in the province. Their valuable services in this regard should be recognized openly," he said.

Mr.Thushara Gunatilake, Director of Education in Colombo also spoke.

Mr.Rangarajah awarded medals to Principals, Mr.Thiakalingam to teachers and other guests followed.