09/19/2005

RI Vice President for Policy Joel Charny spent a few minutes talking to some of the older students. Sri Lanka has an exam-oriented system modeled on that of England and these students have their O level exams coming up in December. They told of the obstacles they were facing: they lost all their previous year’s notes in the tsunami; with no electricity they have to study around a kerosene lamp with several other students; their houses are crowded and noisy, making it difficult for them to concentrate. Nonetheless, the students expressed determination to succeed on their upcoming exams.