The school re-opening in Sri Lanka appeared unsuccessful on the first day due to lack of trust by parents on the manoeuvres of the authorities, our study indicates.
The attendance of students was very poor in the majority of the leading schools. However, attendance was comparatively better in rural schools.
Many of the parents expressed a lack of trust regarding the safety of the students.
However, many schools had provided handwashing and temperature checking facilities.
Minister of Education Prof. G.L. Peiris said that as reported to the Ministry, six schools in the Eastern Province, 14 schools in the Central Province, 14 schools in the North Central Province, 12 schools in the Sabaragamuwa Province, 48 schools in the North-Western Province and one school in the Southern Province had not been re-opened.
Ceylon Teachers' Union Chairman Joseph Stalin accused that the government had not provided facilities for disinfection and sanitization.
Chairman of Lanka Teacher Service Union Mahinda Jayasinghe said that the people had not approved the government's decision.
Out of Sri Lanka's over 10,100 public schools, around 5,100 will be opened today for students from grade 6 to 13.
All schools sans few in the Provinces other than the Western Province were expected to start today. The schools in Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts remained closed.
Secretary to the Ministry of Education Prof. Kapila Perera said that the school authorities had been given powers to take decisions on emergency situations.
The Ministry said that over 90% of the public schools have less than 1,000 students and it is not difficult to maintain social distancing.
