The importance of English and Sinhala education in today's education system..........!
The importance of English and Sinhala education in today's education system..........!
The importance of English and Sinhala education in today's education system..........!
The importance of English and Sinhala education in today's
education system.
In today's globalized
world, the role of languages is fundamental to the development and
civilization of a society;. Especially in the field of education, language is
an important tool for creating a student's knowledge base. In that sense, both
English and Sinhala are important in Sri Lanka's education system.
Sinhala serves as the mother tongue
spoken by the majority of the country and the administrative language;. Therefore,
it is very necessary for students who are selected for jobs in government
departments. Moreover, Sinhala is an important language to understand social
relations, cultural contributions, and historical events. Along with this,
English also plays a role in daily life. In today's era, English is used as an
international language in all fields such as information and communication,
technology, computer science, business, medicine, and engineering.
If students want to
establish themselves in global competitions, it is imperative for them to be
proficient in English. Many educational institutions in Sri Lanka are more
interested in providing education through English. The reason is to develop
students to be suitable for international standards. It is mandatory for a
student to have knowledge of English if he/she wants to continue his/her higher
education journey abroad. Following this, knowledge of English is also a plus
point in the job market. People from different industries are connected through
English.; This is necessary for the integrated development of a multilingual
Sri Lanka. At the same time, the importance of the Sinhala language is not only
for educational purposes, but also for identity formation and social cohesion.
The importance given to the Sinhala language in the national curriculum
promotes the mother tongue competence of students. It also leads them to
participate meaningfully in their society. Thus, students get the opportunity
to embrace and grow in their cultural identities.
The practice of two
languages provides students with deep thinking skills, language proficiency
and social support. Moreover, bilingual students can contribute not only to the
international arena but also to the political, social and economic development
of the motherland. The implementation of bilingual education in the educational
program should be designed to develop students' proficiency in both languages.
This will create open opportunities for them. It will foster cultural mutual
understanding and strengthen social cohesion. While English is a modern tool
that develops the ability to compete with the world, on the other hand, Sinhala
is also a foundation that firmly connects students with their social roots.
Therefore, by working
together in today's education system, students' cognitive, social understanding
and skills begin to develop in a balanced way. It is not fair to emphasize one
language and ignore the other; the quality of education will rise only when
both get equal space. This will ensure the overall development of students.
Therefore, in today's
education system, both English and Sinhala are very important to prepare
students for world-class standards and it is a great truth that when students
become proficient in both languages, they are more likely to be successful in
various fields of life.
Education is the
foundation of a society. Educational programs are designed in every country
according to its linguistic environment. Both English and Sinhala have an
important place in today's education system to reflect the materials, culture
and history of Sri Lanka. These help students improve their skills in science,
technology, communication, and participation in global dialogue.
The role and importance of
languages
Language is not only a
tool for knowledge transfer; it is the identity of a society. The language used
in education determines the students’ understanding and ability to contribute
to society. There are three major languages in Sri Lanka: Tamil, Sinhala and
English. Of these, Sinhala and English are of great importance in the education
system today.
1. Importance of Sinhala Language
• National Identity
Sinhala is the mother
tongue of the majority of the population of Sri Lanka. It is seen as the
language that reflects the political, social and cultural identity of Sri
Lanka. The prominent place of Sinhala in education provides students with the
opportunity to connect with their cultural identity.
Since Sinhala is the
language spoken by the majority of Sri Lankans, it is a very important language
at the national level. Government departments, the judiciary and public
administration are mostly conducted in Sinhala. Therefore, students who want to
engage in government jobs or social services must have a good knowledge of
Sinhala.
Furthermore, Sinhala plays
an important role in the integration, social cohesion and cultural identity of
the country. Being a national language, it carries a literature and tradition.
• Sinhala in Government
and Administration
Since the government
administration of Sri Lanka is mostly conducted in Sinhala, getting an
education in this language helps in playing a role in society. This is very
important for students preparing for government jobs.
• Sinhala in Knowledge
Transfer
Since there are many
textbooks, scientific explanations and literature in Sinhala, it makes it
easier for students to study educational matters in their mother tongue. This
deepens their understanding.
2. The Importance of
English Language
• Global Communication
In today's globalized world, English
has become a global language. English is mostly spoken in fields such as
technology, science, business, and medicine. Therefore, English is essential
for students to learn relevant information and receive a world-class education.
• Higher Education and
Employment
Various universities and technical
institutions primarily use English as the medium of education. Thus, students
who are proficient in English have the opportunity to advance in higher
education and get better jobs.
• The role of English
in the Information Technology (IT) sector
Internet, software
development, artificial intelligence and many other technical fields have
English as their native language. This gives students the ability to establish
themselves in the world of technology.
English is the global
language of communication. Most of the subjects in the current education
programs are taught in English. This makes it necessary for students to be
proficient in English.
Moreover, various job
opportunities, especially in the private sector, consider the ability to speak
English as an important qualification. English proficiency tests like IELTS,
TOEFL are required when students go abroad for higher education. Therefore,
English is also considered a technical and life skill.
3. Benefits of Bilingual
Education
The Sri Lankan education
system currently promotes bilingual education. This means that students learn
English along with their mother tongue. This has several benefits:
• Development of
scientific skills
Bilingual education
enables students to expand their knowledge in many fields.
• Unity among people
By learning both Sinhala and English,
students are able to develop unity among communities.
• Development of
functional skills
Bilingual education guides
them to improve their language concentration and functional skills.
4. Challenges and
prospects
• Teacher shortage
In areas where there is a
shortage of qualified English teachers, it becomes difficult for students to
master this language.
• Quality of textbooks
Some textbooks do not
provide a broad perspective and are provided with language errors, which
hinders student understanding.
• Solutions
Improvement of teacher
training centers
• Improving the quality
of source material and textbooks
Major use of language
learning technologies (Language Apps, Smart Classes).
Resolution
Both English and Sinhala
play a major role in today's education system. Students who are proficient in
both languages can collaborate and thrive in a global environment. Therefore,
using both languages in education in a balanced manner will lead to the
holistic development of students.
Both Sinhala and English
play a very important role in today's education system. While Sinhala is a tool
for creating a national identity and social cohesion, English serves as a
gateway to developing global skills. It cannot be denied that these two
languages, together, are guides that elevate students intellectually, socially
and professionally.
In Sri Lanka, Tamil and
Sinhala languages are taught as second languages. Especially after the end of
the war, Tamils have shown great interest in learning Sinhala and Sinhalese
have shown great interest in learning Sinhala as a second language. The reason
for this is that they have realized the fact that the reason for the war in Sri
Lanka is the negative understanding that arose due to the lack of communication
between the races living here.
In that way, when Tamil is
taught as a mother tongue, the task for the Tamil community is fulfilled and
when it is taught as a second language, the need for Sinhala equality is
fulfilled. Through this, it can be understood that the Tamil language in Sri
Lanka is performing a great social function for the Tamil community and the
Sinhala community.
Furthermore, when Tamil is
taught as a foreign language to foreigners, it is performing a function for the
world community. Similarly, the Sinhala community benefits by teaching Sinhala
as a mother tongue. When it is taught as a second language to Tamils, the Tamil
community benefits. The world community benefits when the language is taught to
foreigners as a foreign language.
Thus, by Tamils learning
Sinhala and Sinhalese learning Tamil, the two conflicting communities can
improve communication between themselves, develop better understanding and
friendship, and improve ethnic harmony. Through this, the Tamil and Sinhala
communities in Sri Lanka can continue their lives with ethnic unity and peace.
It will not only lead to
permanent peace in Sri Lanka, but will also motivate the Tamils who have
migrated and are living in foreign countries amidst untold suffering to come
back to live in Sri Lanka. In that way, the process of learning and teaching
Tamil and Sinhala languages has performed a great social work that brings
harmony and unity between the two conflicting communities.
What do you know about the
Sinhala language?
Sinhala is a beautiful
language. It is very pleasant to speak and listen to. Like Tamil, Sinhala also
has two cases, written and spoken. The spoken case has regional variations. The main
differences are in the tonality and some of the
words used in regional Sinhala such as Matara Sinhala, Kandy Sinhala,
Colombo Sinhala, and Digamadulla.
Although Sinhala is a
language related to the Indo-Aryan language, it can be said that Tamil has a
great influence on that language. Grammatically, the influence of the Thevida
language family can also be seen in Sinhala. Similarly, Sinhala can be
described as a language that has largely absorbed Pali. A person who knows
Sinhala can easily understand and learn Pali, Hindi, and Sanskrit.
Linguists say that Sinhala
is the Sanskrit form of the word ‘Elu’. Today, the Sinhalese refer to
themselves as Hela because of this word Elu.
Although Sinhala has different
dialects, the Sinhala spoken by the Roti clan and the Vedu people of Sri Lanka
is very different. It can be assumed that the language spoken by the indigenous
people since ancient times underwent changes after the Aryan invasion and
absorbed the Dravidian languages, Sanskrit and Pali language, and the language
of the Portuguese, Dutch and English who came to Sri Lanka.
The fact that the words
oluwa – head, kakula – leg, pata – stomach, which are still used today, are not
found in the Dravidian languages, Indo-Aryan or Indo-European languages, can be
said to be some evidence that they came from the indigenous language spoken by
the indigenous people through the Sinhala language.
The Sinhalese do not have
the same language attachment as the Tamils. To tell the truth, they do not have
any concern about their language. It can be said that this language loves to
undergo changes without any restrictions. It is very, very difficult to bring a
new word or letter in the Tamil language. But Sinhala is not like that. It
undergoes changes immediately.
For example, we say Ng&e;J (perundhu) in Tamil as equivalent to
the English word BUS, but it is very worrying that the English word bus has been absorbed in Sinhala as bus radhaya (g];uja)
Not only that. If a
Sinhalese does not know how to speak Sinhala, he will think it is a matter of
great pride for him to say it in English. This situation is making the Sinhala
language vulnerable to destruction. The Sinhalese should realize this. If they
do not come forward to protect their language, in another fifty years they will
be speaking English as Sinhala.
In Sri Lanka, Tamil and
Sinhala languages are taught as second languages. Especially after the end of
the war, Tamils have shown great interest in learning Sinhala and Sinhalese
have shown great interest in learning Tamil as a second language. The reason
for this is that they have realized the fact that the reason for the war in Sri
Lanka is the negative understanding that arose due to the lack of communication
between the races living here. In this way, when Tamil is taught as a mother
tongue, the task for the Tamil community is fulfilled and when it is taught as
a second language, the need for Sinhala equality is fulfilled. Through this, it
can be seen that Tamil language in Sri Lanka is doing a great social service
for the Tamil community and the Sinhala community. Furthermore, when Tamil is
taught as a foreign language to foreigners, it is doing a service to the world
community. Similarly, the Sinhala community benefits by teaching Sinhala as a
mother tongue. When it is taught as a second language to Tamils, the Tamil
community benefits. The world community benefits when the language is taught to
foreigners as a foreign language.
Thus, by Tamils learning
Sinhala and Sinhalese learning Tamil, the two conflicting communities can
improve communication between themselves, develop better understanding and
friendship, and promote ethnic harmony. Through this, the Tamil and Sinhala
communities in Sri Lanka can continue their lives with ethnic unity and peace.
It will not only lead to permanent peace in Sri Lanka, but will also motivate
the Tamils who have migrated and are living in foreign countries amidst
untold suffering to come back to Sri Lanka. In that way, the process of
learning and teaching Tamil and Sinhala languages has played a great social
role in creating harmony and unity between the two conflicting communities.
The importance of English and Sinhala education in today's education system..........!
No comments