- Secy. acknowledges issues and that action needs to be taken
- Related decisions must be made in consonance with the NIE
In the wake of calls by the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) for a comprehensive review of the newly prepared school modules, the Education Ministry stated that the matter has come to their attention, and that possible options would be studied.
When contacted by The Daily Morning, the Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa said the Ministry is paying attention to the matter and accepts there could be issues in modules that need to be addressed. However, he noted the Ministry cannot take specific or instant action on its own, as the preparation and approval of subject modules fall under the purview of the National Institute of Education (NIE).
“I cannot specifically say that we will take a particular action. These tasks are entrusted to the NIE, and they are the ones who have prepared the modules. As a Ministry, we cannot make final decisions on these matters,” he said, adding that this does not mean the Ministry has no responsibility. “We accept there is an issue and that action should be taken, but this is not something I can resolve immediately. What we can do is study what options are available and move forward accordingly.”
The comments follow concerns raised by the CTU after the suspension of a newly printed Grade Six English language module over an inappropriate web reference. The Union said that issues have been identified in other newly prepared modules and urged the authorities to carry out a thorough review before they are distributed to students.
Speaking to The Daily Morning, the CTU President Priyantha Fernando said recently that teachers have reported problems in several subjects, particularly with the inclusion of quick response (QR) codes in lessons. He added that when some of these QR codes are scanned, they direct users to irrelevant or unnecessary content.
The Ministry earlier announced that the distribution of the newly printed Grade Six English language module, prepared as part of ongoing education reforms, had been suspended with immediate effect after it was confirmed to contain a reference to an inappropriate website. An investigation was launched following a complaint, and the Ministry also lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department in connection with the matter.