Located on the west coast of Sri Lanka along the strip of Lewis Place, Kudapaduawa is the tourist hub of Negombo. This small ward of Negombo is the home for a self-effacing and complacent fisher community who are predominantly of Roman Catholic faith. Though identified as Sinhalese, they speak a dialect of Tamil known as [...]
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Located on the west coast of Sri Lanka along the strip of Lewis Place, Kudapaduawa is the tourist hub of Negombo. This small ward of
Negombo is the home for a self-effacing and complacent fisher community who are predominantly of Roman Catholic faith. Though identified as Sinhalese, they speak a dialect of Tamil known as Negombo Fisherman’s Tamil (NFT) which is influenced by Sinhala and a bi-lingual society. A majority of them attend the Sinhala medium schools in the area.
In 1980, the Kudapaduwa Sinhala Mixed School was established on the remnants of the Kudapaduwa Tamil School which had a Sinhala division. The Sinhala teacher Mr. P.T.A. Nonis was appointed the Principal of the Sinhala School and served the school for a decade. The second principal was Mr. W.N Tissera and he was able to open the new three-storied classroom building. The current Principal Mr. P.C.K. Fernando assumed duties at the end of 2010 and is in charge of the 271 students and 13 teachers.
A majority of parents live away from home engaged in their livelihoods, and the
children are left in the care of grandparents or relatives. This has led the students to consider the Principal and the teachers as their kith and kiln. All in all, the role of parents in their overall education is minimal. As they speak Tamil at home their knowledge of Sinhala language is poor, and the school holds additional language classes after school hours to improve the language skills of the primary students. “Tuition is unheard of in this part of Negombo,” comments Mr. Fernando, “and whatever the academic achievement made is primarily due to the hard work of the school staff”.
Learning to cook fish without utensils
Last year, the school produced the best Ordinary Level results in its history despite the shortage of teachers, and it was Ann Niyola Fernando who brought glory to the school. Mr. Fernando laments: Lack of teachers is a pressing issue here; the school never had a teacher for the subject Roman Catholicism (RK). it was the versatile mathematics teacher who took the RK class as well as Music. She was in charge of the two music bands too. Since she was transferred, we have lost two teachers. It is a huge loss for a small school like ours. The new mathematics teacher is flatly refusing to do any other subject other than mathematics. We have appealed to the authorities but it is of no use.
Kudapaduwa SMS has developed its own strategy to keep the not so studious
The Best O/L result student compering the Prize Giving
students engaged and retained in school by introducing a more practical education aimed at developing some life skills such as home gardening and culinary skills. The students are punished for their indiscipline in a constructive manner. The penalty has to be paid in terms of bio fertilizer or rich soil. Since the school is on the coastal plain bordering the sea, earth is salty and infertile, extra effort is needed to make it cultivatable. Also, each tree in the school garden has a student owner and they are solely responsible for the healthy growth of their trees. The beautiful collection of blooming plants and others are the outcome of a collective attempt by the staff and students.
To some extent, Mr. Fernando has the knack and the luck of getting support from all quarters in developing the school. During the last year they were able to organise the first ever fund raiser called “Sathsara Rangana Night” initiated by the newly formed PPA — a display of talents in performing arts of the students of the KSMS and neighbouring schools. The success of it was indeed a confidence booster for the
organising committee. A well-wisher has promised to supply all the instruments needed for the Eastern band as well. Nonetheless, presently, the biggest concern of the Principal is the classroom building that accommodates three classes but has a disintegrating roof. The tiles had come down during four nights in the recent past. The roof needs a complete overhaul as the iron bars decay faster as it is near sea. According to the Principal, he has informed the authorities at the highest level and is keeping his fingers crossed about the outcome.
“We are a Type 2 school with around 300 students. I am working hard to attract more students and take the school to the next level. I get tremendous support from the Principal and staff of St. Mary’s College, from past pupils and from well wishers in this endeavour. My other ambition is to see the first ever student passing the Grade 5 Scholarship exam in the near future. ” Mr. Fernando thus shared his aspirations for the school.
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