Eastern Province Governor Anuradha Yahampath said that schools should not be closed again due to protests. She said that Grade 1-5 primary schools with fewer than 200 students will be reopened on October 21.
She was speaking at a special meeting with provincial education authorities at the Governor’s Office in Trincomalee yesterday morning. “All arrangements have been made to reopen 567 primary schools in our Province on October 21. Children who have been indoors for a long time have now forgotten about schools. The first thing we need to do is create the right mindset for children to learn. No one should think about baby uniforms during the first two weeks. Don’t make it mandatory. Don’t even think about shoes. We should do as much as we can to make up the minds of the children. Sisuseriya buses as well as Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses will carry children to schools. We will provide meals to children. Parents together with other responsible people should carry out shramadanas at schools to disinfect classrooms,” she said.
The Governor said that Health Committees have been set up at schools with principals, deputy principals, Grama Niladharis, Public Health Inspectors and Security Forces personnel. They will meet next week to make necessary decisions. Do not make us to reverse this difficult decision to start schools due to various political motives of the Teachers’ Unions.
We recruited 3,000 graduates for the Zonal Offices under the District Secretaries and provided them with additional training. If there is a shortage of teachers, we will assign them. If this succeeds, we will start the rest of the schools very soon,” the Governor said. Provincial Chief Secretary Thusitha P. Wanigasinghe, Secretary of Education Crystilal Fernando, Secretary to the Governor L.P. Madanayake and Provincial Education Directors were present.
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