Interesting article by  Edward B. Fiske (former Times education editor and author of the Fiske Guide to Colleges) about (a) how Reagan appointed a commission to push a political agenda that included voluntary prayers in schools, but the commission he appointed came up with a report that focused on quality of education and (b) why economic productivity of a country  is not correlated with educational achievements. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/25/opinion/25fiske.
The Campaign for Better Education is launching its monthly newspaper “Paasala” today, August 25, at 3pm at the Library Services Board auditorium on Independence Avenue. A public seminar too will be held. Speakers: Prof. Lala perera Dr. G B Gunawardena S M Ariyarathna de Alwis, Educationist Nimal Munsinghe, Activist, Lanka Jathika Guru Sangamaya Anthar Vishva Vidyala Bala Mandalaya
Law & Society Trust (LST) 3, Kynsey Terrace Colombo 08 Sri Lanka Tel: +94 (11) 269 1228 / 268 4845 Fax: +94 (11) 268 6843 www.lawandsocietytrust.org  LST FORUM  New Education Act: Issues and ProposedRecommendations  By Dr. SujataGamage Coordintor, EducationForum Director, KnowledgeNetworks LIRNEasia  Thurs 24 April 5pm @ 3, KynseyTerrace Colombo08  RSVP Janaki 2691228/2684845 Emaillst@eureka.lk Â
This post is part of a series by the Education Forum on how school education is delivered in other parts of the world. From Article by Bruce Sheerin, Ministry of Education, New Zealand (http://titania.sourceoecd.org/vl=1756152/cl=13/nw=1/rpsv/cgi-bin/wppdf?file=5kzr6wrctk9p.
Justine Ferrari, Education writer | February 05, 2008 (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23161015-13881,00.
Notice of Public Meeting on Recommendations for a New Education Act February 18, Monday, 2008, 3p – 5p Sri Lanka Foundation Institute Sri Lanka Education Forum has been hosting a series of meetings to identify areas of agreement among civil society organizations regarding recommendations for a New Education Act to the Ministry of Education’s Committee to Draft a New Education Act. The final meeting in the series is to be held on February 18, 2008, Monday, 3pm to 5pm at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. The Education Forum is a group of professional, academic, corporate and civil society individuals and organizations representing teachers, principals, past pupils, educationists, entrepreneurs and well-wishers in education. The participants are bound by their common desire to develop, support and sustain a system of education that contributes to cultural, social and economic growth while ensuring freedom of choice and equality of opportunity to all. Sujata N Gamage PhD MPA Coordinator Education Forum V 011-4979795 0r 0770774-8470 F 011-277-5212 E sujatagamage@yahoo.
The Education forum has conducted 3 study sessions so far with a good cross section of persons representing Associations of teachers, principals, and past pupils and  educationists and well wishers. Compilation of past legislations, circulars and Policy papers are now complete. Paper copies of these can be obtained for the cost of photocopying from Ms. Inoka Udayanganie at Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. Compilation of proposals from various groups into one document is in progress.
In Sri Lanka, as in many others countries with a centralized teacher service, there is a problem of getting teachers to locate In poor rural (and estate) areas, when they can tap patronage systems to obtain transfers to more popular areas. Various incentives schemes have been tried, in a number of countries including Sri Lanka, but with limited success. An alternative, to address the problem of staffing poor rural and estate schools, would be to appoint teachers directly to schools, perhaps combined with an extra financial allowance as an incentive. Then, if teachers wanted to move to new schools, they would need to resign from their present appointments and seek a fresh appointment in another school, rather than seek a transfer. Here are some examples of countries that recruit teachers: (a) directly to schools; (b) to local administrations; and (c) central or intermediate levels.
Submission of Proposals for formulating a New Education Act (Advertisement posted by National Committee for the Drafting of a New Education Act on January 17, 2008) On the Directions of His Excellency the President, the Minister of Education, Hon. Susil Premajayantha has appointed a National Committee under the chairmanship of Dr G. B. Gunawardena and comprising panel of eminent scholars in the field of Education to inquire into the Education Ordinance No.31 of 1939 and its amendments, identify aspects appropriate for the present and formulate a New Act for General Education in Sri Lanka.
NUS or National University of Singapore is a premier university in Asia with school leavers form all over the world competing for places. NUS admit school leavers from India, Malaysia, Pakistan and other countries on the strength of each local public examination but Sri Lankan students, even those with the 3As that we felicitate here, have to submit scores for SAT examination conducted by Education Testing Services in USA.. In South Asia, Sri Lanka join the ranks of Bangladesh and Burma as countries whose school leaver exams are not recognized by NUS. American high school diplomas are not recognized by NUS either but the high school diploma in America is not meant to be a universal university entrance qualification.