In the wake of a student at the Wayamba National College of Education (NCOE) taking her own life allegedly due to harassment by several lecturers, the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) claimed that the Ministries of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education does not pay sufficient attention to serious administrative and welfare-related issues at NCOEs.
Speaking to The Daily Morning, the CTU President Priyantha Fernando said that although issues in universities are regularly discussed, the problems faced by students at NCOEs are not paid enough attention to. “There are nearly 20 NCOEs in the country, and many of them have serious administrative issues. For instance, most NCOE administrations have failed to take proper action against ragging. It’s not as severe as in universities, but it still happens,” Fernando emphasised.
He also said that some NCOEs lack even basic facilities such as clean drinking water and proper food, and claimed that the Ministries of Education and Higher Education have failed to address these issues. “NCOEs play an important role in training teachers, especially at a time when the country is facing a serious teacher shortage. The authorities should give NCOEs the same level of attention that they give to universities,” he said.
The CTU raised these issues following an incident where a second-year student at the Wayamba NCOE in Bingiriya, died by suicide in her dormitory. She was from Teldeniya in Kandy and had been studying at the college for two years. Her friends alleged that she had been under emotional pressure and mental distress due to harassment by several lecturers, and that it eventually became too much for her to handle and impossible for her to cope up with. Her family members have also stated that mental stress may have led to the suicide. Students at the Wayamba NCOE also held a silent protest on 23 May following her death, demanding that immediate steps be taken by the authorities, urging them to address the root causes and prevent further tragedies by taking measures. They continued the protest until late in the night, demanding that the President of the college provide solutions to the issue promptly.
The Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr. Madhura Senevirathna was not available for comment.
The Education and Higher Education Ministries have meanwhile launched an urgent investigation into the incident. The President of the Wayamba NCOE, P.V. Lal Kumara told the media that he had been informed that the ministries had launched an investigation.