American businessman and philanthropist William ‘Bill’ Henry Gates the III noted: “Discrimination has a lot of layers that make it tough to get the minorities to get a leg up.”
When I pass the line rooms (living quarters of the plantation workers), the kids come after me every day and ask: “Teacher, when will our school start?” It is heartbreaking to realise that even in this civilised era, we cannot guarantee preschool education of these plantation kids. I console those kids by saying: “We will start soon.”
For how long can I deceive these kids like this? In many estates, the preschools have been closed for many months due to the intervention of the estates management. Similarly, in many estates, the estates management and the Plantation Human Development Trust, commonly known as TRUST, under the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, are busy blocking preschool education of children.
The right of preschool education of the plantation children has been continuously denied. The Malaiyagam community is a highly backward community in terms of education. A community that has been continuously neglected by the past governments too. The plantation companies have been doing their best to prevent the Malaiyagam community from progressing in education in order to retain their workforce. The plantation companies and some forces who do not want the progress of these people in education are making serious efforts to stop the progress of the Malaiyagam community in order to stop the current emancipation of the Malaiyagam community which is struggling hard to achieve better standards in education. When the Government and the Ministry of Education do not take responsibility in this matter, the plantation companies and managements and the TRUST are taking the upper hand and are interfering in preschool education of the children at their will. In almost all plantation company estates – children are denied preschool education. The question arises as to who is responsible for the education of the Malaiyagam children.
The International Children’s Day is 1 October. The Government had also declared a week starting from 1 October as the ‘Children’s Week’. In this context, Malaiyagam children are forced to beg for their right for preschool education. Is this ethical?
If this issue is widely propagated against the plantation companies, it will affect their ‘fair trade ethical conduct certification’. Everyone involved, including the plantation companies, should understand that it can even affect the tea market. In the interest of the country, we refrain from such action.
General education is under the Ministry of Education while preschool education is a devolved subject under the Provincial Councils (PCs), regardless of where the preschools are located, whether in the plantations, villages or urban areas. But, it appears that the plantation managements have complete freedom to close and disrupt the preschools operating on the plantations and deny the preschool education rights of the children. Who gave this right to them? No one is empowered to challenge them. When complaints are made to the Police, they are reluctant to take any action saying that they cannot interfere in this matter.
Although complaints were made to the Human Rights Commission, they are also unable to do anything. The plantations are still operating as separate kingdoms. One needs to understand that if the kids are denied preschool education within the estates, the parents cannot afford to send them to a preschool in the urban area due to the distance and expenses involved. That seals all opportunities for preschool education for these children.
Letters were written by the preschool development societies in May of this year (2025) to the President, stating that the right for preschool education for children is denied and to take appropriate action. The Presidential Secretariat has referred this letter to the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, asking them to take “appropriate action in this regard”. Does this mean that the latter ministry is responsible for plantation preschool education?
The same letter was sent to the Minister of Education and Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. Her ministry forwarded the letter to the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, requesting action. Does this mean that the latter ministry is responsible for plantation preschool education? This ministry is responsible for early childhood development and is not responsible for preschool education.
But, many months have passed and there has been no response from anyone. Nothing has happened. preschools remained closed or constantly interfered with.
The subject matter of the letter written is the denial of preschool education for Malaiyagam preschool children. However, the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs has written a letter to the Nuwara Eliya District Secretary asking whether the morning meal is being provided to the specified preschools and if not, whether there is a possibility to do so. Are the officials in this ministry unable to even read and understand the letter in full? Or, are the officials in this ministry acting with blatant negligence with regard to preschool education of the plantation children?
Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Sundaralingam Pradeep and the private secretary Dr. P.P. Sivapragasam come from the Malaiyagam community. Surely they should understand what the issue is. The latter ministry has written a letter to the TRUST asking for details regarding the preschools. Does this mean that the TRUST is responsible for the preschool education of the plantations? Who gave the TRUST this authority or mandate? This is why they are forcing the parents to send their children to the ‘creche’ and not to the preschool. Is this not a blatant violation of the rights of both the parents and children?
The Private Secretary of the ministry has written a letter to the relevant preschool development society asking as to which preschool has issues. Is it not surprising that the said Private Secretary does not even understand the general complaint that preschool education is being denied to the children in the plantations, and that that was the subject on which the complaint was made?
Moreover, the Deputy Director (Public Relations) to the Secretary to the President, in his letter to the Secretary of the ministry puts the caption of the letter as “Ensuring the right for preschool ‘deduction’ for the children of the Malaiyagam”. It appears that he has signed the letter without even knowing the difference between ‘education’ and ‘deduction’.
In the similar manner, the Additional Secretary (Development) of the ministry, writing on behalf of the Secretary to the Director General of the TRUST, uses the same heading “Ensuring the right for preschool ‘deduction’ for the children of the Malaiyagam”. How could one interpret these kinds of behaviour from the higher ups in the ministries? Is this utter negligence or purposefully done to discredit the President, the relevant ministers and the National People’s Power Government. On the other hand, are they saying that the TRUST is responsible for the preschool education of the plantation children?
The relevant ministries should investigate and find out whether this is a matter of indifference or an attempt to embarrass the Government. Can the officials of the ministries act so indifferently? This is a very serious matter. But, one thing is very clear. This is the kind of respect and concern given to the Malaiyagam plantation people and the education of their children. It was believed that the present people’s Government will give due respect to the people of the Malaiyagam but they are thoroughly disappointed.
Against this backdrop, the Malaiyagam people are desirous to know as to who is responsible for the preschool education of the children in the Malaiyagam?
Is it the PC? The Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs? The Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure? The plantation companies? Estate management? Or the TRUST?
The irony of this is that these preschools are registered with the PCs and hold the registration certificates.
It seems that even the Ministry of Education is also not sure as to who is responsible.
It is our view that the PCs are responsible for the preschool education of all children, including the Malaiyagam plantation children and that the estate managements have no right whatsoever to interfere.
In this context, on 1 October, the country celebrated the International Children’s Day and the Government had declared a ‘Children’s Rights Week’. Where do the children of the Malaiygam stand? If this simple issue cannot be resolved, then, it will be considered that the Government knowingly or unknowingly, still treats the Malaiyagam people as second-class citizens.
In addition, the Government must take immediate action to change the attitude of officials of the ministries who are behaving in an utterly irresponsible manner. While the Government is very concerned about eradicating corruption, fraud and the abuse of power, it is also the duty of the Government to take action against Government officials who are grossly negligent in their duties. This is what the people expect.
Finally, at least this year, we hope that the Government, government officials, and Malaiyagam Tamil Parliamentarians will answer the question as to who is responsible for the preschool education of plantation children.
Finally, Baron/Lord John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton John Dalburg stated: “The most certain test by which we judge whether a country is really free is the amount of security enjoyed by the minorities.”
(The writer is the Executive Director of the Plantation Rural Education Development Organisation)
(The Morning)