The award winning e-book that reached neither teacher nor student

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The E-Swabhimani Award ceremony organized by the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka, was held for the 8th consecutive year. Several state organizations were recognized for their contributions toward innovative software development aimed at improving the efficiency and productivity of the state sector. However, when the Ministry of Education is included in this prospect it is well understood that it diminishes the value of the E-Swabhimani Award ceremony and that it also tarnishes the image of the ICTA. The E-Swabhimani Award was received by the government printer on behalf of the Ministry of Education, for the e-book publication of the grade 11 science and technology syllabus. Although Rs. 10 million was incurred for this purpose, the so-called award-winning E- book has not reached the hands of the teachers nor the students. A new product or concept, that has incurred millions of public funds, when produced must be rightfully utilized. It is the responsibility of the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka, to justify the mechanism they used in awarding a product that claims to have improved the efficiency and productivity of the public when it has not even reached the hands of a single individual. The said textbook was created during the tenure of  Sunil Hettiarachchi as the Secretary to the Ministry of Education. The institution that organized the E-Swabhimani award ceremony is an institution that falls under the Ministry of vocational training in which Sunil Hettiarachchi functions as Secretary. When public funds have been utilized for a project and when the product of the said project has not reached the hands of a single student, it is questionable as to whether this Ministry's secretary misused his power to paint a different picture regarding this project by awarding it with an E-Swabhimani award. If public officials are acting in this manner in our country many lessons can be learned from a lady who is the governor of the Pondicherry province in India. Kiran Bedi on a certain occasion was seen advising and repaying money spent by an official for a banner to welcome her to an event in her province. An official had put up a banner which read, “Hearty welcome to Hon’ble Lt. Governor”. As soon as she spotted it, she turned towards the official and said, “You have wasted money” and she removed the banner. She repaid the money that was spent. Here at home officials and public representatives spend public funds lavishly without any remorse, regret or worry. One such example is when it was to decide to print 40 million pages in the new textbooks provided to students with the picture of a politician and his message. Politicians and public officials who have misused people's money you have so much to learn from the example of Kiran Bedi.