A ceremony was held last week, to felicitate an outstanding teacher, Ms Chandra Rajapaksa (who retired after 30 years of service in the profession), by her students, parents and fellow teachers at Ananda College.
Chandra Rajapaksa is known as ‘Chandra Madam’ by all including her former and current students. One of the most senior teachers in charge of the grade one students at the College, she was presented a biography titled Ape Madam compiled with the initiative of her students in honor of her exceptionally dedicated service.
The book was presented to her by Ananda College Principal S.M.Keerthirathna at a ceremony at the Siyawasa Building. The book was authored by a parent, Thisara Perera, whose twins were also taught by the teacher during 2017/2018.
No one escaped Chandra Rajapaksa’s firm but gentle grip over her students, the difficult ‘first graders’ and everyone in her class, over 45 in most instances, were given a head start in their education
. Those who needed an extra push were identified and picked for more attention.
Due to her reputation, every parent yearned to put their child under Chandra Madam’s care. On many occasions she invited students who were not faring well educationally, to her house, with a guardian, to give them extra coaching during the school holidays. The children looked forward to this, also the biscuits and plain tea offered at the end of the day’s lesson. She was more dedicated to her children in school than her own five grown up children at home.
Students, parents and fellow teachers at the College bid farewell to Chandra madam who made teaching, the first priority in her life.