KANDY - The status of Central Colleges (Madya Maha Vidyalayas) pioneered by C. W. W. Kannangara dwindled with the evolution of National Schools with the 13th Amendment to the constitution, Minister of Education Susil Premajayanth, Chief Guest at this annual prize day of Pushpadana Balika Maha Vidyalaya, Kandy said.

Central Colleges were were an asset to students who excelled in Grade Five to receive scholarships to Central Colleges which were residential, the Minister said.

Products of Central Colleges did well in the country’s administrative service, education sector and in many other sectors. Under the present system of admission of children to National Schools have become a major issue. Admission to year one as well as entrance to Year six of National School’s have become equally competitive.

Parents send their second year children to tuition classes and are worried if they did not reach the cut off marks at the Year Five examination. But parents should not be discouraged if their children did not reach the cut off marks. He said that the Year Five examination was not the only and final examination that a child could sit for. Children could do well in other examinations and complete their higher education.

Minister Premajayanth warned of a destructive group attempting to disrupt the higher education of youth. These groups attempt to create mental disorder from the time the youth gains entrance to the university. Marathan walks are organised. These types of confusions are created by groups which could not achieve their targets by their political theories.

The Minister recalled that be has appeared for many of them in courts of law and said that they had forgotten what happened during that period.

The Minister appealed to parents to be awakened and take care of their children.

Minister Premajayanth disclosed some of the measures taken by this ministry for the improvement of education and the benefits granted by the government for the benefit of the teachers.

He stressed the need to develop the country after it was liberated. After the thirty year war terrorism due to the efforts of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the heroic security forces.

Principal Pushpananda Balika Maha Vidyalaya Ms. E. W. L. K. Egodawala tabling the progress report of the school, highlighted the importance of the examination of the school’s hostel.