Special education project in Talawakelle in collaboration with Noramix group of Norway
The special education project was launched in 22 schools in Division 2 of the Nuwara Eliya Education zone in Talawakelle in May 2010.
The objective of the project is to provide opportunity for nearly 950 students of the 22 schools who will be sitting for the GCE O/L examination in December 2010 to prepare themselves adequately through mock exams held at all 22 schools from May to November in Maths, English and Science and thereby achieving a higher pass level at the GCE O/L examination..
The text papers are set by a group of Teachers and the papers are printed and distributed each month in keeping in line with the general examination procedures.
The 1st exam was held on 24th and 25th May and future exams will continue to be held during the 3rd Tuesdays and Wednesdays of each month till November.
The MJF team visited some of the schools in Kotagala and Talawakelle whilst the June exams were in progress and had brief discussions with the Principals, Teachers in Charge and some students. The Principal of St. Patricks College Talawakelle Fr. Leonard was of profound appreciation of the imitative of the Foundation and further stated that this was the 1st time a private institution has come forward with a very practical programme to improve the quality of education of plantation children although there are many NGOs already working in the plantations with various projects and programmes. Similar sentiments were expressed by the Principals of Cambridge College Kotagala – Mr. C Gnanapragasam and Mrs. Vethanayagam the Principal of Kotagala TMV.
Sriharan a GCE O/L student of St. Patricks College said “Maths is a subject which could be perfected only through continuous practice of sums and formulas. The initiative of the MJF Foundation, in giving us opportunities to sit for 7 mock exams from May to December will definitely give us an abundance of such practice and confidence to face the final exam in December.”
Jacintha also a student of St. Patricks College was of the view that although they do their revisions and prepare themselves for the December exams, the moment they enter the exam hall they are all tensed and tend to forget what they prepared. But with this support by MJF in arranging very competitive mock exams over a period of 7 months, will relieve us of any such tensions and face the final exams with confidence. She further stated that “ we are indeed fortunate to have had this opportunity and will certainly make maximum use of it and produce the results expected of our teachers and thereby justify the initiatives taken by MJF and also will justify the need for continuity of similar support towards plantations childrens education in the future.”
All Principals and teachers assured of producing better results this year at the GCE O/L exam. A majority of students were aiming at getting an “A” in Maths.
The Foundation will be closely monitoring the progress thought the next 6 months and will report comparative results of each mock exam and will also encourage the teachers to pay special attention of the weaker students in order to achieve the overall expected performance by all students.
This special project is implemented in collaboration with friends of Dilmah in Norway the Noramix Group and covers 22 school in the division. Almost all students attached to these schools are from the plantations in Kotagala, Dimbulla, Talawakelle, Lindula and Watagoda areas.
