She made these remarks during a visit to Puttalam Vidya College yesterday (17), while inspecting schools affected by Cyclone Ditwah and raising public awareness about ongoing education reforms in the Puttalam District.
Addressing students and teachers, the Prime Minister noted that students in remote and underprivileged areas face limited access to science and mathematics streams. The government’s goal, she said, is to provide uninterrupted and equal educational opportunities for every child in the country.
While welcoming initiatives to strengthen science education, Dr. Amarasuriya emphasized that science and mathematics should not be overvalued at the expense of other professions. She stressed that all career paths are important and that professionals such as doctors and engineers must work with compassion and humanity for the benefit of society.
She highlighted that building a better future for Sri Lanka depends on producing morally responsible, empathetic citizens who respect others something that can only be achieved through quality education.
The Prime Minister also revealed that Cabinet approval has been granted to recruit 23,000 teachers to address the shortage of educators and principals in schools across the country. These appointments will be made to schools with existing vacancies in the near future.
“Learning is not just about memorizing facts. Students must develop curiosity and the desire to explore knowledge. They must learn how to learn,” she said.
Following her address, Prime Minister Amarasuriya engaged in a friendly interaction with students of the Puttalam President’s Vidya College.
