Educating the Illiterate Literates

For a country that boasts a literacy rate of over 90 per cent for well over a decade, what has Sri Lanka done with that talent? But then again, literacy is not a measure of intellect, and there seems to be a school of thought that we wouldn’t figure so well in that category if it ever were to be.

But what ails the transformation of high literacy into a train of productive thoughts, or the knack to grasp the basics that sit right before one’s eyes. Let’s face it; the born fool will always be one, and would only serve to create havoc like some of those who cruise around our town. But then we also boast a vast majority who seem blind to the misdeeds and misgivings around them, and willingly amble about chasing political carrots. How and why they come to be such and how we might change their perspective is a syllabus yet to be written.

C’est-La-Vie
Ideally, we ought to have learnt our lessons by now. Our people ought to know by now – having being duped on more than two occasions – as to what really is doable and what cannot. You’d expect them to know something about why we pay a high price for oil, or what really causes inflation. But remarkably they don’t – much of our common man doesn’t. Even in Colombo’s suburbs you come across some absurd reasoning and perspectives that leave you confounded beyond imagination. For instance, local commodity and vegetable prices are high because foreign governments tell ours to keep it such – so they could make profits. Any explanation otherwise was dismissed as lies and propaganda by the globalisation camp. When did we become so introspect and retentive? This prompts me to repeat for the third time in one year what was said by Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew: “We (Singapore) knew that if we embarked on any of these romantic ideas, to revive a mythical past of greatness and culture, we’d be damned.” Now this must be interpreted properly. It in no way says that our history and culture must be shunned, but that we must open our eyes and thinking to the world and what’s happening around us, and charter a course accordingly that would put us right. A course that wouldn’t shut us out and leave people dazed and living in a constant wonderland.

It is reality that the economics and standards and vision that some of us may espouse bear no consequence or concern for much of Sri Lanka’s common man, particularly in the periphery. For them, the earth provides what they want. The complexities we desire and work with do not often occur to them. But mind you, at any mass protest against globalisation or some topic of nationality, they would be the ones in front shouting themselves hoarse. They seldom have a clue of what’s going on, or who and how it would benefit.

The party asked them to come, it gave free transport, food and a trip to Colombo – so we are here. How often do we see a real and committed gathering against corruption or mismanagement, a movement demanding incremental change that brings out the numbers? It’s almost never.

This is why some question what our impressive rate of literacy really does for us. If it’s not being put to productive use, you might as well not have it – or spend on it. After all, its public funds that are being spent on education and it is only fair that we demand something good comes out of it. Conventional Sri Lankan politics are well aware of the docile mentality – and use it to their advantage. The rhetoric they preach is music to our public, so there they follow – the blind following the blind.

Down with the Queen
It’s more or less the same with regard to English. Again, it’s the same principle of accepting that it is a global requirement in the modern age, but rather than try to learn what is lacking, there are those who will shun it and label the language a discriminative force that will only corrupt the minds of our ‘cultured’ youth. Whilst we are happy to note that this thinking has somewhat changed, there still remains a lot of work to be done in that sphere. The alleged statements made by a JVP MP last week that education in English-medium must be discontinued were worrying enough.

If English were to put anybody’s kids at a disadvantage, what must happen is not bash those who speak the language, but teach your kids the same. Under a system of free education – which we do have and hence the high literacy – it is the government’s duty to make available trained English teachers to do just that. Trained English teachers are not those who struggle and eventually coin a sentence together, but those who command the language with fluency and are adequately trained to impart it to children. Where do you get them? From within our country, all it must do is compensate them adequately. After all, it is an investment in our future – the country’s future.

Discriminating against institutions that impart English-led education is by no means a solution to our nation’s woes; it will, in fact, be our downfall. Some of those who champion such a cause are in fact educating their own children in the language they disregard. English is not a corruptive language – it is an enabler. It gives opportunity. Language is not what corrupts, its society and people that does.

Sri Lanka’s education system is adequate to add to the lives of youth, but is it enough to empower them? It’s been long since the last debate on educational reforms, and come 2009 it maybe time for another. It would be prudent to study the education patterns of developed and fast developing nations and incorporate their teaching and syllabi that are relevant to the future of our country and youth. Such actions are not an infringement of our sovereignty and dignity; but a step towards a better and empowered Sri Lanka.

It is hope that is rife in the hearts of most Sri Lankans these days; hope of an end to military conflict. But the real end would need to encompass some prudent political thinking. Wage a development war that is inclusive and empowering. Education would be a key element of development in an environment devoid of conflict. Our youth must be ready for the future. Our country must be ready to support our youth. We must be prepared for all eventualities, its just a few kilometers more.