(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – Education Ministry Secretary Professor Kapila Perera says more than 50 percent of the schools across the country were opened yesterday and the teachers’ and students’ attendance was more satisfactory than expected.
Over 3800 schools across Sri Lanka reopened for primary grades on Thursday after a gap of over six months despite the ongoing teachers’ and principals’ trade union action.
Professor Perera said as the Government and the Education Ministry have fulfilled their responsibility properly and it was the parents’ responsibility to send the children to the re-opened schools.
The Education Ministry Secretary further said that on average, 16 percent of the students and 30 percent of the teachers attended the schools that re-opened yesterday. He added that it is expected that the percentage of the teacher- student attendance would increase considerably on Monday (Oct 25). The teacher unions have also urged their membership to report to work from Monday.
Ministry Secretary said that the student attendance was around 7 percent in the Colombo District while the teachers’ attendance was around 17 percent. However, the Northern Province recorded a student attendance of 21 percent while the teachers’ attendance was 48-52 percent. The students’ attendance in the Eastern Province was 39 percent while the teachers’ attendance was 45 percent.
The official also pointed out that the student and teacher attendance in Colombo was minimal whereas the percentages outside Colombo were commendable and encouraging. He also said that the opening of the schools with students below 200 is the first phase in the bid to open all the grades in schools countrywide in near future.
