Taxila Central College, Horana

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Taxila Central College Horana
Location
Horana
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka
Information
Type state schoolPublic
Mottoes "Appamatta Namiyanthi" අප්පමත්තා නමියන්ති (Those who are vigilant never die)
Established 1946
Founder C. W. W. Kannangara, the first minister of education
Principal Mrs. K. K. P. M. Jayathilaka
Grades Class 6 - 13
Gender mixed
Age 11 to 19
Enrollment over 3700
Colour(s) maroon white and blue             
Publication "Thakshila" newspaper
Affiliation Ministry of Education of Sri lanka
Website taxila.sch.lk

The Taxila Central College of Horana (commonly known as Taxila Central College or simply as Taxila) (Sinhala: තක්ෂිලා මධ්‍ය විද්‍යාලයය established in 1946 as a Central College. The current number of students of Taxila Central College is over 3,700. There are classes from grade 6 to 13.

History

The present day Taxila central college is a result of evolution over one hundred years.in 1905 Horana Buddhist English school was established under the Programme of opening of Buddhist schools, launched by the Ceylon Buddhist Theosophist led by Col. Henry Steel Olcott. it was established in a small plot of land provided by Sathis Wimalasekara, a land owner of the area.

The school was shifted to a new place situated in a plot of land donated by Arthur V Dies, a philanthropist, during the 1930s. the Horana Buddhist English School was renamed as Taxila Buddhist English School as proposed by W.K.S. Fonseka, a teacher of the same school, and endorsed by then principal W. S. Sirisena.

As a result of the educational reforms proposed by the C W W Kannangara committee,in 1943, 54 central colleges were beginning to be established throughout the country. That was a revolutionary step in the sense of social mobility occurred thereafter. Moreover, there was a growing demand for taking over of the Taxila Buddhist English school to the government and making it a central college.[1]

As an outcome of those events, under the patronage of the minister of Education, C W W Kannangara, on 6 June 1946, Taxila Buddhist English school was converted into Taxila Central College.[2]

From the first principal Thomas Newton Silva, a number of principals namely, Mr. H. Y. De Silva, Mr. Edmond Dias, Mr. A. R. Erathne and Mr. Jayaweera Bandara had given leadership to the Taxila Central College when the premises of the school shifted to the present venue in 1954. minister John Kotalawala was instrumental in completing the task in time. during the first phase of central college, the first student entered to the arts faculty of the university of Colombo in 1951. After the shift of venue Taxila Central College became an above grade 6 school, leaving the primary section at the old venue as a different school. The shift occurred in the times of Edmond Dias as the principal.[3]

The principal Mr. E. D. K. Abeysekara who was appointed in 1958 had recorded the longest period of being a principal, except Mr. H K A Abhayapala, in this college. He did a yeoman service to develop the school. A hostel was established gathering 200 students, and physical resources were developed during this period. Electricity and water facilities were included among the major facilities.

Science scholars were admitted during this era. In 1958 the school got laboratory facilities and the science classes for ordinary level examination have been initiated in 1960. In 1961 mother Taxila turned a new page of her history book by initiating the Advanced Level Science Section. bringing success to that idea, a student of Taxila could attend to Engineering Faculty in 1963.

Principals

  • Mr T.N. Silva
  • Mr Edmond Dias
  • Mr E.R. Erathna
  • Mr Jayaweera Bandara
  • Mr E.C.K. Abesekara
  • Mr J.M.R. Perera
  • Mr S. Athukorala
  • Mr D.S. Senanayaka
  • Mr F.M.A.J. Mayadunna
  • Mr M.L. Jinadasa
  • Mr D.P.L. Walter Silva
  • Mr M.A. Perera
  • Mr R. Mithrasena
  • Mr U.A. Randeni
  • Mr B.D. Dayananda
  • Mr Dayananda Basnayaka
  • Mr A.A.H. Abesingha
  • Mrs Soma Rathnayaka
  • Mr P. Geeganage
  • Mr. H.K.A. Abayapala 1996-2012
  • Mrs. K.K.P.M. Jayathilaka

Facilities

Field Study Centre

History

In early 1979 a group of science teachers from Kalutara District along with the science education officer were invited to attend a field camp held at "Thondamanaru" Field Study Center in Jaffna. It was a residential camp and was an important event for teachers from south to meet their colleagues from North. On the final day at Thondamanaru Field Study Camp a decision was taken to start a similar Field Study Center in Kalutara District too. The science education officer had several discussions with the relevant people and finally decided to start a field study center. The relevant people had finally decided to start a field study center at Taxila Central College, Horana. The principal of the School wholeheartedly agreed to provide the closed down hostel building to house the field study center. The first Field Study Camp was held on 3 August 1979 as an environmental project of the Kalutara District five year educational plan (1979-1983). Education Department and the Ministry Of Education supported very much to build up the center

Activities

By 1981 the field study centre was a fully fledged environmental studies laboratory. The Ministry Of Education promoted the novel idea of outdoor activities related to environment and allocated funds to carry out the study camps. Several 3 day residential camps were held during every school term. The environmental studies done in these camps were based on the rich biological diversity of Kaluganga-Basin.

Stage plays

The deputy principal, Mr. Ranjith Wijenayake has produced and directed a number of stage plays on behalf of the school. Four of them (Asarana kathandarayak, Nena saha Pena and Diriya Mawa) represented the school at national level competitions. 'Diriya Mawa'(a translation of bertolt Bretcht's Mother Courage and Her Children) won the second place at the State School Drama Festival- 2012. That drama won 14 awards as well. it was a big production with two and half hours duration.

Swimming pool complex

History

In 2004 according to the proposal by Captain of the Police Life Guard Mr. W.S. Bandula, the swimming section of our school was started as a sport event. It was started by Mrs. Ramyalatha Mayadunna with the kindly sanction of the school principal Mr. H.K.A. Abhayapala. Taxila central college is the very first school in the Horana Division which starts the swimming as a game. But there was a big deficiency to stride forward the above event successfully, due to the lack of a swimming pool in school. Because of that our student had to attend a private swimming pool in Panadura for their practices. In that period Mr. Bandula and Mr. R.K.T. Rajakaruna gave us a great service to training the students. Due to lack of a swimming pool, a request was sent to the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka - Mr. Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka from the school. As a result of that we had a chance to build a swimming pool in school. That was donated by Rev. Kyuse EnShinjo - Founder of the Nethbutshu Buddhism Sect in Japan, with kindly collaboration of the secretary of Prime Minister. Swimming pool complex was opened on 29 June 2009.

Swimming pool information

Length 25 metres
Width 12.5 meters
Lanes 6 lanes
Deepness 7 feet (deep end)

Academic information

There are Grade 6 to Grade 13 Classes in Our School and There are Three Sections in Advanced Level Step Called Science Section(Combined Mathematics and Biology), Art Section and Commerce Section. More than 3500 Students Studying in School at the above Sections

Ordinary level

6,7,8 section

The main aim of this section is to give a better preparation for children by providing a junior secondary education to face ordinary level or advanced level subjects in a better way. During the past ten years unique new co curricular events were introduced by this section.

'Prathibha'- a variety show in which all the grade 6 children participate commenced in 2003. It is held annually on the last day of December. Almost three thousand children have participated so far.

'Nirupana' - an educational procession made up of hundreds of representations of social and cultural phenomena. Though the form is like a traditional procession, the content is entirely educational and creative. This is the peculiar annual event of grade 7 students and it started in 2008.

'Nirmani' - a open stage variety show of grade 8 children. It commenced in 2008. this is unique in the sense that the items displayed are the creations of the children themselves. it is held before thousands [4] of children on the last day of the second term.

mr. Ranjith Wijenayake was instrumental in introducing those events.

9,10,11 section

Advanced level

Art section

Milestones
  • In Year 1953 Student Named "Gamage Sugathadasa" Has Been Selected To University of Peradeniya As The First Student Who Had Been Selected To University From Taxila Art Section. (He Was A Student Of Incipient Art Batch).
  • In Year 1954 Student Named "Hemapala Wijayawardhana" Has Been Selected To University of Peradeniya.
  • "Art Festival" Continues Annually According to Selected Theam with Concurrent Events like Teachers Offering, Soldiers Offering, Former Principals' Offering, Since 1996.(Missed in 1999 and 2005).
  • A Separate Class was Started as an Aesthetic Class in 1994, to Teach the Student Who Follows the Aesthetic Subjects.
  • Facilities Established to Teach "Japanese Language" and "English Language".
  • 48 Students were Selected to Universities According to A/L Results of Year 2008. Three of Them were Selected to "Faculty of Low".
Services
  • Complimented the Screen of Main Auditorium, by the Interest Earn from "Karunasena Jayalath Memorial Film" Festival in 1997.
  • Created a Photographs Collection of Former Principals' when the Former Principals' Offering was held.
  • Created the Black Curtains for Main Auditorium in 2006.

Science section

Milestones
  • In Year 1963 Student Named "Govini Thantirige Dharmasena" Has Been Selected To University (Engineering Faculty) As The First Student Who Had Been Selected To University From Taxila Science Section. (He Was A Student Of Incipient Science Batch.)
  • In Year 1975 two Students Named "Sunil Senanayaka" and Pushpa Karunasekara were Selected To Medical faculty of the University of Sri Lanka. They Were The Very First Students Who were Selected To Medical faculty From Taxila Science Section.

[5]

Facilities
Laboratory complex
  • It Was Started In 1962. In The Incipient Age, The Above Laboratory Complex Contains With Three Sections As Chemistry, Physics And Agriculture.
  • In 1986 We Got A New Triple Floor Building. So New Lab System Were Changed As Chemistry Lab, Physics Lab, Botany Lab And Zoo Lab.
  • After The New Modification Of A/L Syllabus Our Zoo Lab Was Closed And The Botany Lab Were Changed As The Bio Lab.
  • The New O/L Science Laboratory Was Established In 2005.
Science Reference Library
  • It Is A Wealthy Library With More Than 3000 Valuable Books To Refer.
  • Recommend Books for Study
  • Extra Reading Books
  • Science Magazines
  • Past Papers and Marking Schemes
Field Study Centre
  • Studying Camps
  • One-Day Workshops(For grade 6-21 students)
  • 3-Day Workshops(For A/L Students)
  • Co-ordination centre for A/L Projects
Sobagira-"The Home of Bio-Diversifying"
  • Contains with butterfly park, fish pond, collection of aquatic plants and afforestation.
  • Can see some live samples for practical for grade 6-10 science syllabuses.

Commerce section

Milestones
  • In Year 1968 Taxila Commerce Section Was Established From one Grade 12 Class.
  • In Year 1995 a Student from Taxila Commerce Section, Got District First Place in Advanced Level Examination.
  • After Three Year Later, in 1998 a Student Named "Nimal De Silva" from Commerce Section, Got Island First Place in Advanced Level Examination.
Activities
  • Hold the Annual Commerce Day, with Number of Concurrent Events.
  • Organize the Environment Pulchrituding Events in School like Painting Flower Plants in School Surroundings.
  • Organize the "Orchid Planting Project" and "Anthuriam Planting Project" in School.

Extra curricular activities

Societies

  • Buddhist's society
  • Commerce society
  • Art society
  • Inventor's society
  • Astronomical association
  • English club
  • Quiz club
  • Senior prefect's guild
  • Junior prefect's guild
  • Boy's cadet platoon
  • Girl's cadet platoon
  • Cadet western band
  • Girl's band
  • Scout
  • Girl's guild
  • Saukya-Dana(Health-aid, First-aid & Medical-aid) Unit
  • Environment pioneer society

Co curricular events

  • Sports meet (held once in two years in February)
  • English day ( organized by the English society. usually in June)
  • 'Nirmani' the open stage variety show of grade 8 students (in August)
  • Arts day (organized by the Advanced level arts society)
  • commerce day (organized by the Advanced level commerce society)
  • Science day( organized by the Advanced level science society)
  • 'Nirupana'the educational procession of the grade 7 students)
  • astronomical day (organized by the Astronomical society)
  • 'Prathibha' the variety show of grade 6 students (held in December)

Sports

  • Kabaddi
  • Carom
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Chess
  • Badminton
  • Karate
  • Swimming
  • Athletics
  • Volleyball
  • Netball
  • Table tennis
  • Boxing.

Houses

Students of Taxila Central College are divided into 4 houses

  • Thissa

Colour -      Red

  • Gemunu

Colour -      Green

  • Vijaya

Colour -      Yellow

  • Parakrama

Colour -      Blue

These houses are named by the names of great kings in Sri Lankan history. Annually in the beginning of the first term students play for their houses.

"The Route Of Taxila Goes Forward Proudly, Turning New Pages Of Its Proud History And Definitely It Will Go Ahead For Many Centuries Spreading Its Glory All Over The World." And also as a leading central college in Sri Lanka, the mother taxila develops skilled sportsmanship among her children.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Arunalu, the journal of the central colleges past pupils association of Sri Lanka, 28th Sep. 2010 issue
  2. ↑ Arunalu
  3. ↑ Arunalu, the journal of central colleges past pupils association, 28th Sep. 2010 issue
  4. ↑ Prathipujana fact book of Taxila central college and the annual reports.
  5. ↑ log books of the college

External links

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