MALIGAHENA MUSLIM SCHOOL PROJECT: BEARS GOOD FRUITS

I write these words to express my great gratitude to philanthropist Al-Haj. Z.A.M. Refai and Engineer AGA Barrie of Beruwala, Sri Lanka and old boys of the above school for, dedicating themselves for the development of their alma-mater, under a master plan estimated at the cost of 75 million SLR.

Further, it is hoped highlighting some of the achievements made under this project will add some more values.

History of this school goes back to 100 years. At present it has the largest Muslim students in the district. Majority of them are children of poor parents. For the last three decades the school could not produce expected results in the public examinations, due to lack of infrastructure facilities and shortage of teachers. The master plan designed and implemented by Engineer Barrie and fully funded by Al-Haj Refai hopefully will address these dire needs. 

The phase -1, of the infrastructure development project commenced in 2008 and now it is completed at the cost of 34millions. In parallel to this, an academic development plan with the purpose of improving the quality of education was commenced in the same year.  The major focus of the five year academic plan (2008-2012) estimated at the cost of 5.5 millions, is to enhance science and technology education in the school, giving more priorities to teaching the subjects: science, maths, IT, and English language at secondary level and prepare students for G.C.E. O/L and A/L examinations. Under this project three B.Sc. graduates to teach the subjects science, maths, and IT and an English trained teacher were employed. The payments of salary of these teachers was made from the project vote. 

Improving the quality of education of children, particularly, in the schools where the children of underprivileged parents study, cannot be achieved within a short period. However, the project shows some fruitful results at its early stages. 

Table.01

		2007	2008	2009
G.C.E. O/L Success rate		44%	51%	85%
Number passed in Maths		20	57	83
Number passed in Science		05	24	70
Number passed in English		25	20	49

 

 

 

 

Table- 1, indicates the growth rate of performance in the public examinations from the years2007 to 2009. The success rate in the G.C.E. O/L examination, in the particular school is compared with the national indicators (the average Island wide performance in the year 2009, reported by Commissioner of Examination was taken as base line) in the Figure-1. The data indicates, after the introduction of the project, the performance of the children in this school has exceeded the national average in subjects: science, maths, IT, and English language. ‘The Zam Gem model of scaffolding’ has created a debate whether students alone can be blamed for their failure or the school and the community have to share it.

 

According to the school sources, the phase-2 of the academic plan for the year (2013-2017) will be submitted to Zam Gems very shortly, to be implemented in parallel to the third phase of infrastructure master plan. The landmark of the second academic plan is the commencement of G.C.E. A/L science classes. In the year 2009 and 2010, twenty two students became eligible to do G.C.E. A/L science.

Due to non availability of facilities they were directed elsewhere. Under the second academic plan it is hoped to prepare at least five students for admission to medical and engineering faculties in the year 2016.

The project has given lots of hopes, but there is a long way to go. The awareness the community has efficient leadership of the principal and attitude and commitment of the teaching staff will only make this project a success.

Prof. A.G. Hussain Ismail

from Malaysia

an old boy of Maligahena Muslim school.

05.01.2012

Introduction by Sailan Muslim

By the help of Allah, Maligahena, Beruwela is blessed with the necessary ingredients to promote the Education. Alhamdulillah.

It was a challenge taken up by the Principal and teachers, helped by AlHadj Refai financially, by Prof.A.G. Hussain Ismail academically and by Engineer AGA Barrie by visualizing and preparing, the Master Plan.

Prof. A.G.Hussain Ismail,  who was the Vice Chancellor of Eastern University, an expert in the educational needs of our Community in Sri Lanka, heads the Academic Planning Committee of the Maligahena Muslim School.

Sailan Muslim was pleased to be involved in this highly commendable project and is monitoring the pilot project based on the criteria set for the entire community, island wide, after a complete study by the experts in the field of Education.

This is the third report carried by Sailan Muslim Website

Mohideen Cader

Secretary.

Sailan Muslim Foundation.