May 25, 2011: The Ministry of Education has decided to provide school principals with a three (3) month leadership training programme. Secretary to the Ministry of Education H.M. Gunasekara said at a function today that 1000 principals at schools which are being developed with several facilities, will undergo this training at the Rantambe camp.
“If the principal is weak, that will be the end of the school. Therefore they should possess energy to drive the school forward. They should be able to jump over walls so that they could catch students who scoot. In order to fulfill administrative matters in these 1000 schools, 500 capable principals currently engaged in the service. As well as 500 youth under the age of 30, who have just left university, will be enrolled shortly and trained. I would like to note that the other principals must be ready to go to Rantambe to participate in this leadership programme as well, as soon as these 1000 individuals complete their training,” said Gunasekara.
The Secretary to the Ministry of Education made these comments, while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the National programme on school cleanliness and beautification, which was held at Isipathana College in Colombo today.