I visited a total of 10 schools around Sri Lanka, they ranged from schools in the South of the country recovering from the 2004 Tsunami to schools in the mountainous region of the Central North.
Andaragasyaya Junior School
Andaragasyaya Junior School lies in a community that is recovering from the 2004 Tsunami. I would like to thank them for sharing with us an extract from Desert Blossom, a film made by a group of professional organisations: Sri Lankan Library Association, University of Missouri St Louise, Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals ( CILIP UK), IFLA Library Associations of US, the parents and students, showing how they are trying to rebuild not only the school but the spirit of the community after such a devastating event. By working in partnership with these organisations the school has developed a new library. I saw evidence not only of smiling happy children but a strengthening community which encourages international links and development through art, music, media and friendship.
The school also has no internet connection at the moment but is hoping to develop one as and when resources become available, they are also in need of an english language volunteer teacher to enhance the schools english language teaching.
Whilst I was at the school I was honoured to be asked to present a bicycle to a star pupil. The bicycle had been purchased by funds donated by Edwina Smart and Friends form Wales. it was presented to the pupil to enable him to cycle instead of walk the 3/4 km per day to school, now he can get to school quicker and easier..... What a difference a bike can make!!!! ;0)
Belanaweva Junior School
Belanaweva Junior School is in the North Western provence, the area is in a rural setting, producing mainly coconut plantations.
The Principal proudly showed me the school and surrounding area and described the hopes, dreams and concerns that he has for the future of his school and students.
The children were an absolute pleasure, their smiles radiated throughout the school, The principal is keen to develop reading and language materials for the children and is keen to receive stories from around the world, stories are good enough ! but Story Telllers would be even better !!!!!!!!
Whilst I was there the children shared their King coconut with me ans showed me their traditional songs and dance, music plays a majot part in this happy environment and even though the band has few instruments and resources I am sure they would be more than happy to hear from fellow dancers, musicians and story tellers from around the globe.
The efforts of this enthusiastic Principal is reflected in the growth of the school when he arrived only 20 children attended the school now there over 190..... as a result he hopes to extend the school to grade 1-11 from Grade 1 -5 .
Clasrooms and resources are in short supply with the growing demand for pupils attending this school the school is experimenting with solar panels to meet the increasing demand for water, electricity and sanitation and are looking to utilising new technologies for teaching and learning when the infrastructure and resource problems can be overcome....
Bohoma Sthuthi..... to all at the school for such a wonderful time... I really hope we can work together for a brighter future.....
Karandeniya Central College
Karandeniya Central College is situated in the southern part of Sri Lanka. I was warmly welcomed by staff and students who were keen to show me their school and cricket team.
The school has a number of talented students and the staff are keen to develop not only the talents of their students but also the facilities at the school. This is illustrated through the development of their cricket team. parents and Pupils led by their dedicated sports teacher have spent 3 years turning a piece of scrubland into a cricket pitch. As a result their cricket team has gone from strength and they now boast a number of pupils in the outh squad. The school is keen to develop partnerships with other cricket teams at school and club level so if you fancy a game, get in touch ;0)
The principal is keen to develop English Language Teaching throughout the school and is busy trying to develop further the schools library facilities and english language teaching, in particular to sourcing magazines and journals like the National Geographic and Readers Digest , collecting english medium cd resources and welcoming volunteers english language teachers and students to the school.
Mahagoda Junior School
Mahagoda Junior School is in southern Sri Lanka, a very small isolataed junior school. The principal showed me around the school and their school library which did not take very long as it consisted of a small cupboard of second hand books. It is amazing to me to see how teachers and students can survive with such limited reading material. The books are obviously well used and well recycled! Resources here are very limited and matched only by the obvious enthusiasm for teaching and learning by students and staff. i stupidly asked the principal to see the types of language cd resources that the school had only to be told that not only did they not ave cd's in school but also had no access to computer resources even though ICT is a compulsory part of the curriculum. The students come from impoverished homes where access to computers, dvd'd and television is impossible. It brought home to me how important it is for us to resource such isolated schools, by doing so we can not only reach the students and learners of tomorrow but also their parents and siblings too.
Beralilhela Junior school
Beralilhela Junior school is in the south of the country. I was amazed when I arrived on what should have been a school holiday to see the hall packed with students staff and parents who had come along to meet me. The school is geographically and socially isolated. The school started in 1984 and has over 500 students grade 1- 11 , the schools covers all aspects of the curriculum ,to GSCE level.
The school would welcome any overseas partnerships but in particular would like to develop links with schools in the UK. In order to develop creativity in the school, the principal welcomes volounteer workshops in Art, Music, Dance etc enhancing the skills and abilities of the students and encouraging visitors to the school. Visiting artists would be warmly welcomed and encouraged. because of the locality of this school it is difficult if not impossible for the children to communicate with people outside their immediate area, with no internet access, tv or video it is important for visitors to reach these isolated communities and share with them a range of cultural experiences.
Macaldeniya Junior School
It took a long time to reach Macaldeniya Junior School, at one stage I wasnt sure if the mountains and hills of Sri Lanka were ever going to stop. Not only did we run out of road but dirt track and finished the journey on foot . This is the most isolated schools I visited. The school has around 65 students and are children of labourers working in the nearby tea estates. The school and community are Estate Tamils. English is taught here but Tamil is the main language. The school is keen to develop english language teaching but because of its remote nature finds it difficult to attract English Speaking Teachers to this area. The are is one of outstanding natural beauty surrounded not only by the beautiful countryside and stunning mountainous ranges but with the surrounding tea plantations is one of natural organic beauty.
The principal showed me around the school and its locality. I was surprised to see an array of snakes on the school office wall and was given a quick briefing on each snake and its poisenous capability, apparently they are frequent visitors to the school.
I was even more surprised to see a gaping hole in the wall of the classroom wall only to be told the following.
The school collects money to supply powdered milk to the children as sometimes this is their only sustinance during the day, the milk is normally locked in a steel cabinet for security reasons. During one evening a wild elephant came down from the hills walked through the wall, broke open the steel cupboard and ate a whole months supply of the milk powder ! I kid you not !!!! The hole is now draped in plastic as the school does not have the funding to repair the hole and is raising funds to collect more milk powder .....
The school welcomes overseas partnerships and hopes to extend the school further by developing a nursey school in the grounds to enable younger children to attend school earlier. There are no other facilities in this remote locality so the new nursery will provide added stimulus for child development and learning. resources for this are very limited given the socio economic status of the workers living in this community. any help would be warmly welcome! Bring your own milk powder !
Mawathura Junior School
Mawathura Junior School is in Kothmale has 150 children students in the school, the pupils come from surrounding villages, Sengale is the main language spoken here. The children range rom grade 1- 11 and are taught English Language as discreet subject. The school is keen to develop links with English Speaking schools in order to develop the English Language Speaking skills in the school.
The principal is keen to develop links with other schools to develop knowledge of not only school subjects but to raise global and cultural awareness. The school was very warm and welcoming, it is beautifully decorated with murals of the children. The school ha no communication network being scarcely resourced but if you would like to get in touch please email Premila Gamage at premilagamage@gmail.com
Kalaimhagal Junior school
Kalaimhagal Junior school is a Tamil School situated in Kothmale. The main languages spoken are Tamil and English Language. The school has a Scout Club and is keen to link to any Scout Associations. The school teaches a brod range of curriculum and in addition has an Environmental Garden and Library that they are developing. As the film shows what the school lacks in recources they make up in enthusiasm.
Atabge Udagama School
Atabge Udagama School is in a remote location and whilst its is probably the most resource deprived school that I visited in Sri Lanka,becuse of the way geographical and economic boundaries are drawn up it does not qualify for any assitance even though the school is in obvious need of help.
During my visit, I was shown around the limited facilities that this school has and listened to the obstacles that face the everyday running to running of this school. The school is situated in an area of extreme poverty. The school has no fence or windows so on more tan one occassion locals ahvd come into the school and taken furniture away to be used as firewood. There is no water at the school and the school survives by collecting water from the overflow at a nearby hospital. This is their only means of water for drinking and sanitation purposes. The school boasts a canteen of approximatly 6 by 8 feet which caters for over 500 students a day. The staff have to monitor the girls whilst they are in the school grounds as on more than one occassion strangers have appeared at the school posing obvious threats.
Sanitation is also an issue due to the lack water. plans for a Garden and vegetable plot to raise funds for school development have also been scuppered due to the hot climate and lack of water.
The Principal and Teachers amazed me with their enthusiasm, they both contribute part of their monthly salary back to the school to support these needy children........ there are some amazing people in this world achieving things in very difficult circumstances. The modesty and dedication of these two gentlemen needs some recognition !
Katupopha Junior School
Katupopha Junior School is in the North Western Province, a school with over 700 students. The school is situated in a rural area and caters for a wide range of abilities. I was treated to a guided tour of their facilities by the Principal and Teacher. as with other schools I visited the school suffers from an inadequate water supply, the well remained nearly dry,. This area is lucky to have rain maybe 3 months a year so water is on short supply.
The library for over 700 students was held in one cupboard, classrooms were in short supply and remained in many case unprotected but despite this the school maintains a positive ethos towards the students teaching and learning and their academic results are increasing year by year.
Parents have taken an active role in the school and whilst they do not have many resources themselves ahve worked in unity to build a special needs classroom and language area which by theamount of work I saw is fully utilised.
The schools mission statement is to face future challenges, to be physically and mentally disciplined, to work peaceully and co-operatively and to love one another and our environment.......
A message that perhaps we can all learn.....
Sri Lanka - you should be very proud of your teachers ...the Teachers and Principals I met impressed me with their level of dedication, motivation and Committment !!!!
Best wishes to you all......................
If you would like to get in touch with any schools featured here please contact Sri Lanka Co-ordinator: Premila Gamage at premilagamage@gmail.com
