By Recently, there has been quite a bit of chatter about the state of teacher education in Sri Lanka. Well, here’s another story related to that conversation.
It all started when Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, our energetic Prime Minister, took the stage to talk about education and teacher training. She has long been known for her articulate speeches, but there was a moment of irony that caught the attention of two teachers in the audience—one of whom looked eerily like Harini herself.
Harini, rallying the crowd, spoke passionately about how Sri Lanka’s teacher training programs hadn’t changed in 15 years. She was at the Pulatisipura National Education Faculty’s 25th anniversary event, delivering a powerful speech. Her message was clear: for Sri Lanka to progress, the education system, particularly teacher training, must evolve. She emphasized that quality education starts with teachers who are well-trained, equipped with the knowledge and tools to shape the future of the nation.
But as she spoke, two women teachers who had attended the event couldn’t help but chuckle. One of them, quite striking in appearance, bore a remarkable resemblance to Harini herself. The two exchanged a knowing look, and one whispered to the other, “She talks a lot about teacher training, but will it ever happen?”
Walking the Talk
The humor wasn’t lost on the crowd either, as they laughed at the irony. While Harini spoke about reforms and the need for quality teacher training, these two women, perhaps more experienced or skeptical, seemed to question whether the government would follow through on these promises. The woman who resembled Harini even joked, “If she could walk the talk like she talks, we’d be the best-trained teachers in the world by now!”
It was a moment that highlighted a crucial issue: the gap between what’s promised and what’s actually delivered. The conversation in the room shifted from admiration for the Prime Minister’s speech to skepticism about the government’s ability to bring about real change in teacher training. It was clear: there was more talk than action.
After the Prime Minister’s speech, the two teachers couldn’t help but share a light-hearted exchange. One of them, who looked strikingly similar to Harini herself, leaned in and whispered to her colleague, “You know, if Harini’s really so concerned about the state of teacher training, why doesn’t she just step in and fix it herself?”
The other teacher, amused but sceptical, nodded. “True. If she can talk about it so passionately, why not take it on? Maybe she should lead the charge and see first-hand what’s really going on with teacher training in this country.”
As the two teachers mulled it over, one of them jokingly added, “If we’re waiting for her to do something about it, we might be waiting forever. But hey, maybe we should give her another six months. I’ll have a chat with her. Maybe I can say, ‘Madam, I look a lot like you, and people keep asking me why your sister isn’t doing anything about this. Why not hurry up and make the changes you’ve been talking about? We’ll even help you out.’”
