2. Radio Tuition phase I
The rate of failure at the O/L exams among Sri Lankan children (15-16 years) from rural areas has been extremely high: only one out of three children succeeded. O/L exams have become a permanent source of fear and stress, probably a true obstacle for effective democratization of the education in Sri Lanka. All this not counting the family sacrifices to pay for tuition classes. Moreover children missed schooling during months immediately after the Tsunami.
Plan Sri Lanka reacted immediately to the crisis, bringing books and supplies, along with short-term plans to rebuild the affected schools at the tsunami affected areas especially badly hit Hambantota District, in the Southern region of the country. However, facing a potentially disastrous outcome at the December O/L examinations, more supportive measures were necessary.
So "Nana mini Pahana" was born: tuition classes through radio, opened to all students sitting the O/L exams, but designed mainly for those who could not afford to pay for tuition classes. Every evening, from 7:00 to 7:45 p.m., students from all over the Southern Region turn on their radios to follow explanations on Mathematics, English and Science, the three most difficult subjects of the O/L exams.
This project was successfully concluded in January 2006 and has reached between 30,000-50,000 students in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. |
