Bridging the Education Gap: Empowering Children in Batticaloa

In recent months, my visits to Batticaloa have allowed me to connect with schools, gather valuable insights, and delve deeper into the local school system. Staying at the Child Action Lanka Centre, located near Iluppadichchenai Ambal Vidyalayam, has given me the opportunity to witness firsthand and observe the livelihood of families and the community in this region. I think a lot of those in the community recognize me because I do stand out as a little different, no matter how much I try to fit in.

Life is different out in Eravu Pattu. When I step out during the early mornings, I would also see several large tractors or trucks hauling away groups of children to school. Some children find it difficult to commute to school. Many of them would cycle or walk miles to school too. I would also see a number of older boys cycling to drop their younger siblings at school. I would often wonder, “Shouldn’t they be in school too?”

Short-Term Gains vs. Long-Term Success

There are two groups of children, the kind that can keep up in school and those that struggle. Those that struggle find it logical to drop out of school, because, in the short term, some daily wage jobs such as sand mining, offer more wages than a teacher’s salary in these areas. One teacher from Kithul Sri Krishna Maha Vidyalayam explained that the boys are not shy to point this out to her when they discuss their future in school. She says that there are many boys who find school to be a waste of time because they don’t see themselves being able to keep up and they prefer to drop out of school and engage in work that pays them well enough to support their families. Likewise, there are many girls that either stay at home to help or get married young, hoping that their husbands will look after them and their families. Batticaloa West Education Zone has approximately 250 to 300 students that drop out of school each year.

On the other hand, we have students like Ranakshi (Name has been changed), a 17-year-old student from Kayankudah Kannaki Vidyalayam, that is about to do her O -Levels this year. She travels from Pulayaveli, a small village located 3 km away, to Kayankudah Kannaki Vidyalayam each day. She scored 80 marks in Math on her last exam and does well in other subjects too. Not only does she excel academically, but she also participates in athletics and takes the initiative to organize events at her school. However, limited access to advanced-level education in the region poses a significant hurdle for ambitious students like her, requiring them to relocate for further studies. She aspires to be a Math teacher and after her O Levels she will need to move to Chenkalady Central National College to do Maths for her Advanced level, which is located 6 km away from her home.

The Struggle for Qualified Teachers

Currently, only two schools in the area offer A Levels. A student in Pulayaveli would have to travel over 15 Kilometers to get to Karadiyanaru Maha Vidyalaya and these schools do not offer Science and Maths Streams for A Levels. Finding competent teachers, particularly in subjects like Math, Science, and English, remains a challenge even in middle school, leaving gaps in the students education and contributing to more children following arts streams for A Levels, if they do A Levels at all.

The few teachers that are there take on teaching more classes because of the lack of good teachers. Despite these obstacles, school principals persevere by organizing extra classes, bringing in past loyal students to come back as tutors and compensating them and by reaching out to their networks to provide training for their existing teachers. However, the shortage of teachers often results in talented students and educators leaving these schools, perpetuating the cycle of inequity and leaving less privileged students behind.

The closest school is Chenkalady Central National College, which is at the junction where the Badulla road meets the Batiicaloa-Trinco highway. In front of the school is a large board showing cases of 10 students who got very high results in their A Levels last year. Many of these students are students that formally went to schools that belong to the Batticaloa West Education Zone.

Empowering Education through Qualified Teachers

To bridge this educational gap, it is crucial to prioritize sending qualified teachers to these communities. By doing so, not only can we retain talented students, but we can also foster collaboration among peers and provide better support to struggling learners. Creating an environment where all children have access to quality education and experienced educators will reduce dropout rates, empower students, and help close the equity gap that exists between privileged and underprivileged schools.

It is vital to recognize the significance of retaining the best teaching talent in Batticaloa. By ensuring that highly qualified teachers are present in these communities, we can foster a conducive learning environment, encourage more children to stay in school, and achieve better academic outcomes. We need to work together to create a brighter future for the children of Batticaloa by investing in their education and empowering them to realize their full potential. Teach First Sri Lanka is committed to this mission and will strive to support and retain talented teachers within their own schools.

Sincerely,

Jeremy De Zilwa.