The Minister of Education Professor G.L. Peiris stated that the final decision about holding the ordinary level exam this time and if it is held on scheduled days, the procedures taken for that will be notified within the next ten days. The minister expressed these ideas when he participated in a special meeting at the Government Information Department held for sensitizing the media about the reopening of the schools in the current health protection situation prevailing in the country and its future developments.
While participating in this occasion, the Secretary of Education Professor Kapila Perera said that the ministry of education also has devised a special program to obtain the information from the teachers for investigating how far the relevant subject syllabuses have been covered up at classroom level or through the online method for the grade 11 students sitting for General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level Examination this time.
The minister emphasized that although some sections express various views on the decision taken to reopen the schools within the prevailing circumstances in the country, it is not possible to keep schools closed further while keeping the future of the students also closed. But this does not mean taking of measures to provide education neglecting the health protection of the children.
The minister further pointed out that this decision was taken not in an irresponsible way, but having pre-discussions about it at provincial level before opening the schools, with the full interference of health sectors and giving the authority to the principals to implement appropriate decisions after having discussions with health promoting committees formed at school levels.
A gradual improvement of children’s attendance in schools can be expected and it is natural in a situation like this that the parents being hesitant to send their children to schools as soon as the schools are opened, the minister said. The monetary allocations have also been issued to provide necessary facilities for ensuring the health protection in all schools, he further said.
Accordingly, the ministry of education has taken steps to provide 65 hundred thousand rupees to the central province, 49 hundred thousand rupees to the southern province, 36 hundred thousand rupees to the northern province, 46 hundred thousand rupees to the eastern province, 56 hundred thousand rupees to the north western province, 30 hundred thousand rupees to the north central province, 38 hundred thousand rupees to the Uva province and 46 hundred thousand rupees to the Sabaragamuwa province and altogether nearly 370 hundred thousand rupees for the purpose of providing health protection facilities in the schools.
Since it is an injustice to be inactive for the children with the fear of criticism, the decision to reopen the schools was taken facing the current situation with responsibility and all the sectors must fulfill their social responsibility of ensuring the health protection drawing the full attention towards the continuation of education of the children while minimizing the drawbacks, the minister further pointed out.
A gathering including The Minister of Mass Media Keheliya Rambukwella, the Secretary of Education Professor Kapila Perera, the Deputy Director General of Health Services Specialist Doctor Susi Perera and the Chairperson of Sri Lanka Transport Board Kinsley Ranawaka had joined in this occasion.
