TRINITY is a school that carries a rich history of 139 Years. It’s a wealth drawn from the inspiring vision of the founding fathers in the Church Missionary Society (CMS); implemented over decades by a succession of broad minded and inspiring Principals; and the total commitment of Staff –both Academic, Administrative and Minor staff, many of whom gave more than their best, if not their lives, to the cause of the charges in their care.

When one talks of the Trinity Spirit, it is universally acknowledged that its distinctive nature could only  come from familial traditions spun from  the finest of human qualities, good citizenry, and a  social consciousness that combine to produce :  Gentlemen.

In such esteem has the school been held that it’s no wonder that the founding Principals included some of the most respected products of Oxford and Cambridge; recognized educationists; and that some of the most distinguished visitors to the school included Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, Mahatma Gandhi, and Jawaharlal Nehru. And the School’s own products included the first Inspector General of Police Richard Aluwihare, an Army General Denzil Kobbekaduwe; a President of the Oxford Union Lakshman Kadirgamar, an Under Secretary General of the United Nations Jayantha Dhanapala, and a Knight in this year’s Queen’s Honors List Sir Desmond de Silva.  The list is too long to recount on an occasion such as this, but it give a flavor of the quality of the School and its excellence.

It is not the remit of this article to recount the very important milestones that Trinity carved out in the education history of Sri Lanka. But one cannot but refer to the pioneering effort of the storied “Fraser of Trinity” for his determined efforts in  1904-1920 to introduce and include  what was then disparagingly referred to as the “native languages”  of Sinhalese and Tamils, to the consternation of the British;  and when even the Ceylonese at that time were taken by surprise ! The history of Trinity and its traditions are well documented in other publications. It is however appropriate that for the purpose of this Souvenir, for us to begin to paint a canvass –and initiate a dialog—of what Trinity should be over the next many decades.

With the turn of the new century where barriers, boundaries and walls have been broken down to make way for an inter-connected world, there is a new calling that Trinity will need to respond to. The true Sri Lankan Citizen that Trinitians were molded into should now take the shape and form of Global Citizen. Our emergence into the World Cup Cricket Final led by Trinitian Kumar Sangakkara is an example of such global citizenry. Many of us who have had, thanks to Trinity, the privilege of serving overseas see Trinity’s interconnected and interdependent role as a compelling driver to the future outlook of School.  What does this mean?

First of course is to continue to prepare young Trinitians for a life in all its abundant fullness, and not just for a mere living. This will require that the School rededicates itself to preparing its students for a productive life through “rounded education” –not just study that Trinity is renowned for:  responsible, caring men whose actions are guided by the principles of perseverance, teamwork, honor, integrity and fair play. There is now need to build even more robustly on the foundations which were laid at the portals of Trinity.

This sounds cliché-ish! It may even make those in charge of the school claim that “this is exactly what we are doing, so no problem!” But in today’s climate of education in Sri Lanka, there is the real danger that we may fall into what  Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen calls the  —“Frogs in a Well” syndrome—a hazard that confronts many a inward looking developing country, institution, enterprise, school or  and university.   And in our case if we do not take care, Trinity itself.

To counter this, it is important for the Board, the School’s Management and the entire staff to step back, regroup, reflect and understand what the Mission and Vision for Trinity should be in this the 21st Century. With the advances of globalization, with the all embracing outreach and inter-connectedness of countries, of peoples, of minds and ideas, it is important that a reassessment and a renewed understanding be embarked on. It will need expert support. Experimentation with our own thoughts and ideas can only go a certain distance. Yet this can be costly as we are playing with the lives of young kids who have been put under our charge. To this end it will be good, as a proposition, to explore the following goals in earnest:

 

• Continue our commitment to education in an academically rigorous curriculum but with sharpened perspectives that reflect a balance of the best traditional, innovative and creative programs that will give Trinity a new edge.  These should be designed to meet the development needs of a diverse student body mindful of the fact that Trinitians of the future will face an increasingly competitive world in this 21st Century. This should include a state of the art benchmark for the use of Information technology and laboratory research, of synthesis and application of knowledge in its broadest form.
• Trinity needs to attract, hire, pay competitively, orient, retain and continuously train highly qualified professionals with a passion for teaching and service.  In his State of the Union Address to the United Sates Congress President Obama put it so well when he said ….” Let’s also remember that after parents, the biggest impact on a child’s success comes from the man or woman at the front of the classroom. In South Korea, teachers are known as “nation builders.” Here in America, it’s time we treated the people who educate our children with the same level of respect.  We want to reward good teachers and stop making excuses for bad ones.”  Its building that Trinity Nation that should be our goal.
• Trinity should continue to attract students of diverse talents and diverse cultural, economic, geographic, ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds without of course resorting to quotas. The students should be prepared in the broadest of traditions to gain a rounded education; develop their leadership, social skills and self esteem; build in them a keen sense of responsibility for social service, community activities and observance of one’s faith.
• Become the best-in-class in sports and extracurricular programs by recruiting seasoned and experienced trainers and by motivating and supporting sporting talent.
• Develop the highest standards of language and communication skills among our students so that they can inter-relate globally.
• Revamp the School’s Management, Administrative and Financial Management organization structures, processes and competencies, and bring in modern tools to secure efficiency and effectiveness. Set in place Key Performance Indicators and accountability systems.
• Repair and renovate and build the facilities of the School and refresh the aesthetics that makes Trinity that remarkable School where River, Lake and Mountain meet.
• Develop a long range plan for the school in operations and in financial management, using tools of endowments, grants and annual giving, a balanced budget, a capital budget and a reserve fund for replacements, earmarked Trust Funds and Special Accounts for donation from Alumni Associations locally and globally; and put in place financial aid programs for deserving students; and a special Fund for the continuous professional education and training of teaching staff.
• Set in place a proactive marketing and public relations function
• Re-establish close links with the Alumni Network (TCK Old Boys Network) and define areas of intervention and consultation in the interests of pursuing common objectives.
• Refresh the Board Governance Structure including self assessment within the Board; and put in place a true “Trusteeship Function” that will place more responsibility and accountability for the achievement of the Mission and Objectives through the effective running of the School.

The Board, the Principal and Staff and Alumni  have a collective responsibility to fashion an outcome that will be faithful to the ancient lore but one that will clear the clouds and mists of uncertainty so that the far away peaks of achievement will become visible to the mind and eye…and then work to claim that hill. And the Canada based Alumni Association along with the Network of Trinitians can play a constructive, yet non intrusive, role.

Article Obtained from the “Night of the Lions” Souvenir.