Sri Lanka's school re-opening not successful today

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. 

Sri Lanka government has no proper plan yet for school education

Parents of school students of Sri Lanka complain that no proper plan is available to conduct the paralyzed education of the country's children. They lament about schools not having plans, authorities not providing proper directions, internet and electronic media access of the low-income groups. 

Some schools and teachers conduct online classes but many parents lament about the limited access to them because of coverage issues, internet access, lack of equipment and the quality of online education.

Meanwhile, Ceylon Teachers' Union issuing a statement urged the government to streamline the use of television and radio channels to benefit the students because the electromagnetic spectrum is public property.

Minister of Education Prof. G.L. Peiris said that Gurugedara Educational Channel telecast about 2,700 lessons from Grade 3 to 13. Gurugedara Educational Channel is telecast on Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation's Channel Eye which has poor visibility in some areas of the island. 

Sri Lanka State Ministry of Education Reforms, Open Universities and Remote Education Promotion announced that remote education would start for the school students since November 15. 

GCE Ordinary Level examination will not be held in December. The examination will be held from January 17 to 26, The Secretary of the Ministry of Education Prof. Kapila Perera says. 

The start of the third term of government schools was scheduled to November 9 but it was postponed indefinitely due to spread of COVID-19.

Out of 10,175 government schools in Sri Lanka, 1,468 schools have less than 50 students. The number of schools with the number of students from 51 to100 is 1,498. The Secretary to the Ministry of Education said that the authorities were considering the possibility to start these schools.