Village School, Sigiriya village, Sri-Lanka.
It is the beginning of the school year we have, it's time to return to the subject of school reports from Asia. I keep my school series, this time we'll learn about how children learn in Ceylon.


On the island is dominated by free public education, only about 10 000 schools, in which a total of 3.8 million children enrolled, the number of teachers exceeds 200 thousand.

In the school system in Sri Lanka, there is a division into three levels according to the age criteria: primary school (4-5 years), the average junior, middle and senior school Collegium (under 18 years). Classes are called "grades". Compulsory education in the country - from the 1st to 9th grade (14 years old). Upon completion of the three levels (up to and including the Scarecrow high school) students pass the first exam and the results of the translated into collegium - the fourth and final level of schooling.

After training in the last 13m Grady students pass the overall exam, according to which the total score is obtained, which subsequently is crucial for admission to the university. Although besides each applicant passes the oral exam profile at the university. From the words of the teachers who accompanied us, on average 4-5 people in the class come to the university.

Welcome to Sigiria Central College.
This school is located in the small village of Sigiriya, not far from one of the famous attractions of the island. The school is relatively large and very modern by the standards of the country. It serves the area within a radius of about 7 km, and then taught children from remote villages where there is only a primary school.

School holidays in Sri Lanka: August and beginning of September, 1 month in December, 2 weeks in April (New Year according to the local calendar).

Classes start at 8:00 am and continue until 14-15.00, after-school tutoring, there electives starting from high school. In each class of 35-40 children in primary school to the third grade one teacher. Lesson duration 45 minutes, the usual no interruptions. One 20-minute break for lunch, a snack in the day, they bring with them. On the territory of this school does not have a dining room or cafe.

In general, to be a school teacher in Sri Lanka is very prestigious, teachers are paid significantly higher than the national average, especially felt in the province. Teacher's salary, which only came to work in the school of 150-180 dollars, the salary of a teacher with years of experience 25ti - 350-450 dollars. The average salary in the country of 80-150 dollars.

Also teachers teaching practice after school in the evening schools, universities, training courses. There are tutoring at home, the average cost reached the 10 lessons at home for up to 1.5 hours each is $ 25.

Favorite subjects: math, English, aesthetics - a set of objects of art (music, painting, dance, etc.)

This is one of the primary classes:

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A characteristic feature - all female teachers are necessarily sari is the official national business women's clothing. As a whole, in a sari walking no more than 20% of women. Unlike India, for example, where in a sari almost all women.
Still, sari - it's awesome!

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Children's drawings:

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And homework by writing:

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All portfolios are composed in the back of the classroom on special racks:

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So look school building:

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In each class, is certainly worth a small statue of the Buddha:

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And on the territory of a small chapel:

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School magazine:

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On the wall in every classroom hangs a list of all the students, if someone does not, then the picture turned away to the wall. Is the responsibility of the student comes to hang your picture face every morning.

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Schedule, lessons are actually non-stop with one 20-minute break:

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Map and relea islands in the territory, is very clear:

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School infographics:

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Library, which at the time of my visit was held tutoring for the last two schoolgirls 13th grade for additional items to prepare for the delivery profile exam to university.

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And of course, any student who lives on the equator, dreams of snow:

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The schedule 3 gym class a week. Basically, they are held in the form of sports game. The most popular sports game in the country - cricket.

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Outdoor activities:

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And one of the senior classes.

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Classes are separated by only a wooden screen, so the room is worth a pretty impressive noise:

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At the entrance to the school is worth a poster with the rank-clearance work aimed at the destruction of mosquito vectors of dengue fever:

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The head teacher of the school Ruwan Bandara, who spent a wonderful tour for us, for which he was special thanks to:

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And finally, my favorite picture:

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In Sri Lanka, I was in two totally different schools. The following reportage I will talk about a very interesting "Japanese" school on the island of Ceylon and the introduction of a specific Japanese system of training in it.

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Learn more country? Get introduced to non-touristic life of Asian countries?
My series of school stories "Asian class":