• Principals note that students have to travel long distances to attend nat’l schools that offer same 

The Ceylon Principals’ Union (CPU) has called for mathematics and science streams classes to be established across all local school categories, thereby preventing students from having to travel long distances to attend national schools which currently offer maths and/or science streams.

“My school only has arts and commerce classes so those students who are eligible to and wish to study science or maths have to travel long distances to attend national schools that offer the same,” the President of the CPU and the Principal of Lourdes College, Nattandiya, Piyasiri Fernando, told The Daily Morning yesterday (18). “Therefore, science or maths classes for the General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCE A/L) should be established in all schools.”

These comments come following 2023 reports of education activists alleging that nearly 7,000 schools out of approximately 10,100 not offering science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) classes to A/L students.

Fernando also said that due to the students leaving for national schools to attend science and maths education, smaller schools are experiencing student dropouts.

Earlier this year (2024), the Cabinet of Ministers approved a proposal to train 7,500 school teachers across the country in artificial intelligence and robotics to implement STEAM education in the country. STEAM education was first introduced in the United States by integrating Art education into the traditional Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. It was reported that the former Government planned to introduce this method of education into all grades in schools.

The Secretary to the Ministry, Thilaka Jayasundara declined to comment.