A teacher serving at a remote school in Galewela has shared a heartfelt message after both of his pupils passed the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination, ending the school’s years-long wait for success.
Rukshan Sugandha received his first teaching appointment at Kandangamuwa Primary School, an isolated school in the Galewela Education Zone. When he arrived, the principal placed him in charge of Grade 4—a class with only two pupils.
He later continued as their Grade 5 class teacher, determined to help both children achieve the qualifying mark at the scholarship examination. According to Sugandha, the school had not produced a pupil who passed the scholarship cut-off mark since 2019.
“I dedicated myself to these two children to the best of my ability, and today I am enjoying the result of that effort,” he wrote on Facebook after the examination results were released.
Despite the hardships associated with serving at a remote school, Sugandha said he continued to work there with great enthusiasm.
“Today, both children have passed the examination. This is the happiest day of my life because both of my first pupils have succeeded. Although I have passed many examinations myself, I have never felt happiness like this,” he wrote.
However, the teacher humbly stressed that the achievement did not belong to him alone.
“This result should belong to every teacher who taught these two children from the very beginning,” he added—paying tribute to the collective effort behind a milestone that brought pride and joy to the small school community.
