“Country needs an overhaul in the education system” – Mohan Lal Grero

Mohan Lal Grero has been an educationalist for several decades. He is one of the most well known Physics and Maths teachers in the island, and has so far taught over 200,000 students in his mass classes. Grero founded the Lyceum International School in 1993. Today Lyceum is one of the most sought after private schools in the country and has five branches with over 14,000 students. Over the decades his contribution to the education system has ranged from teaching students, publishing newsletters, conducting programmes on television and creating trust funds to promote literacy throughout the country.
Grero is contesting the upcoming General Election from Colombo for the United National Party.

Q: What made you move in to politics?
A: I entered politics purely to make a change in the education system of the country. For a while now, I’ve seen that the country needs an overhaul in the way the education system works. So to make a change in that field is my primary goal.
The United National Party invited me to contest from their party for the 2004 election, and after some thought I agreed to their invitation because I knew I could make a very useful contribution to the education system. In the April 2004 General Election, after coming in to politics for the first time I received 13,000 votes. In the July 2004 Western provincial council election,I received 30,000 votes which was the third highest number of votes for a UNP candidate. Then in the 2009 Western provincial election, I moved further and got 60,000 votes, the second highest votes from the UNP.

Q: What are the changes you want to make to the current education system?
A: When we talk about education I think there needs to be changes from the time the mother gets pregnant. Today most mothers concentrate on taking certain nutrients after the child is born, but this should not be the case. They need to start taking these nutrients during their pregnancy. There are millions of brain cells in the child’s head and millions of brain wires connecting these cells. The proper development of these cells and wires is essential in creating a healthy child who will be successful in society. Unfortunately if the mothers don’t take the necessary nutrients at the necessary times the child will not develop his brain to the full potential.
The first few months and years in a child’s life are of very crucial to his brain development. That is the period when most of his brain develops. Therefore, the brain needs to be properly stimulated. This is why early childhood care and development is so important. I feel that in general most preschools in the country do understand this concept. But parents need to be aware of this as well because children look up to parents and other adults when they are growing up. So it is good for all parents to be aware of how to stimulate the child’s brain.

It is for these purposes that I recommend creating a TV channel dedicated to educating parents on these matters. This channel will be completely dedicated to education, and that is the education of the child as well as the adult. I have spoken to many people and have personally written to the President about activating this concept, unfortunately nothing has been done in this regard so far.

I feel that the year 5 scholarship is very harmful to children. There is so much competition for this scholarship exam that parents start sending their children for tuition classes when they are in grade 2, which is when they are just 7 years old. At that age the child should not be forced to study in that fashion. There are many other things that need to be done to stimulate his brain. This whole hype around the scholarship exam and how parents approach it is seriously harmful for the child’s well being. Therefore, I suggest getting rid of the year five scholarship exam. Instead, the exam should be introduced for grade 8 students. The child is 13 years old at that time and has the capacity to deal with such an exam. In this regard, schools should be divided into just two sections, the junior school and the senior school.

I also propose upgrading two hundred schools around the country so that they have all the best facilities and teachers. This should be done in a way that every electorate gets at least one school. That way after the year 8 exam students won’t have to travel to far off places to attend a good school. In another way this will also reduce the travelling difficulties associated with schooling.

The next issue is with the number of dropouts after the O/L exam. So many students drop out after their O/Ls and end up getting lost because of the system. I propose creating technical colleges for these students to get a 3 year diploma. As part of this programme these students will have to work part-time in a field of their choice. This way these students will get valuable practical knowledge alongside the theoretical knowledge they gain through the technical college. Everyone will benefit from such a programme. The students get experience and the companies get workers who will work for free. After the 3 year diploma the students will be given the option to enter a UNIVOTEC, which is a university of vocational training. Students with the advanced technical diplomas will be able to enter the UNIVOTEC and obtain a professional B.Tech degree. I propose creating 10 UNIVOTEC’s in the country. There is just one such institution right now.
Everyone who has to drop out before the A/L’s will benefit immensely from this system because at the age of 22 they will be holding a degree, and they will have work experience as well.

Q: As the founder of Lyceum International School, what is your opinion on how international schools can be connected to the national education system?
A: I firmly believe that there should be one standard to all schools. At the moment I don’t think a proper standard exists for all schools in Sri Lanka. I think there is a need to bring all the national and international schools to a particular level so that all students enjoy the same benefits that they rightfully deserve. Apart from knowledge on the very basic subjects there is a clear need for students to be fluent in English in order to be successful in the modern world. I think that is one aspect in the international schools that can be properly introduced to all other schools as well.

Q: You’ve established the largest International schooling network in the country and you have personally taught over 200,000 students. Do you feel that you already have a large vote base from the thousands of students and parents who have benefited from your services?
A: That’s an interesting question. But actually I haven’t thought of it in that way. I also haven’t done any research or survey on that matter. I don’t want to mix politics and education. When you came in to the school today you must have seen that there isn’t a single banner or poster of myself in or around the school. I keep my school separate from my politics. Actually that is one of the problems in this country. Everything is so politicised that when appointing teaches to government schools you get a lot of politically motivated transfers and appointments. In the end, the teachers who deserve to be in the school don’t get that opportunity, and the students don’t get the teachers they deserve. I will put an end to this politicised education system if I come to power.