problem and issues of Science and Mathematics Education

The Problems

01.  Language barrier for higher level education of Sri Lanka.

SriLankan educational curriculum is in Sinhala and Tamil medium at primary levels and grade 6-11 it is optional for selecting English medium. But for higher studies like universities the medium of instruction is English. It is a great disturbance to students while shifting form one level to another level. Sometimes the peopleare very talented may be having low performance because of the language barrier.

02.  No proper pre-service training for science graduate teachers.

They teaching at the class rooms soon as soon appointed as school teachers. When they go to the class room they did not know anything about teaching and learning process. They are not awareabout cognitive development theory or child development psychology. It is a disadvantage for the students. The students were faced many problems because of this reason. It is also ethically wrong because the education is a specific change of behavior.

03.  There no well-written text books in Sri Lankan education system. The textbooks always changed without having proper planning. That is a big wastage. The text books are needed to give clear guideline to understand the lessons and concepts without help of the teachers. But SriLankan text books are difficult to understand individually. Teachers need to help to the students using teacher’s instruction manual.

04.  Examination system is still inappropriate and is not maintain the standards.

The marks were given to the practical subjects like chemistry, physics and biology without conducting practical exams. But student have two practical periods for a week. And government spends more for the chemicals, salaries for the store keepers and lab assistants. It is great disadvantage for the country which is producing the people without having practical knowledge for the working world.

05.  Lack of qualified science and mathematics teachers.

Without having well experienced and qualified teachers for science and mathematics the studentsare fail to learn the subjectsproperly. The reason is most of the graduate science teachers are going to other jobs because they can earn the salarymore than teaching.Especially most of the males are not enter the teaching field. Anyhow government is trying to fill those vacancies through the teachers which having national of diploma in teaching.

The issues

01.  Establishing private schools.

These private schools follow the local curriculum setup by the ministry of education in the local language of Sinhala, Tamil or in English medium. Many of the private schools have access to newer facilities than state governmental schools. Some people are like to private schools and some are not. Anyhow government needs to pay much attention to maintain the quality of the private schools.

02.  Private tuition.

Due to the high competitive nature of exams such as year five,GCE (O/L) and GCE (A/L) as well as London (O/L)s and (A/L)s all parents seek additional help at home and at group/ mass classes to improve their children’s grades and performance. In recent years this has become a lucrative enterprise, which has resulted in successive governments attempting to regulate it. Many scholars have also accused tuitionclasses of robbing the childhood and having a negative impact on the child’s health.

03.  Reducing the pass mark of GCE (O/L) mathematics.

Reducing of the marks for mathematics is cause to results of advanced levels. Some says that the without having logical thinking ability it is useless of learning advanced level subjects.But government needsto increase percentage of pass to maintain the standard of the examination. It can be harmful for the future. However government wants to increase their youth votes in the election.

04.  Using mobile phones and tabs by students.

Mobile phones and Tabs are very useful learning devices. But students may be addicted to social websites and bad behaviors. Students should be selected only the things related to education. Teachers and parents should be aware what they are doing.Some develop countries are using mobile devices effectively for the teaching and learning process. That’s why the present government proposed to give tabs for the advanced level students.

05.  Too much pressure of parents to the students.

First generation school-goers undergo a lot of pressure as their family has a lot of expectations from them. But all parents must care about children's education needs. It can be reinforcement to them and increase their achievement. Each person has different capacity of mind so someone cannot bear that pressure. Middle class parents want to shift their children next upper social stages.