Education Minister rules out reopening schools in WP on Jan 11 under prevailing situation

Given the prevailing situation it was not possible to reopen schools in the Western Province on11, January, 2021, Minister of Education G.L. Peiris said.

Prof. Peiris said that ministry officials would meet all stakeholders to discuss the health and safety plans for schools to reopen on 11 January.

Last week, the Education Minister said that the government would reopen schools on January 11 in areas not isolated due to the rampaging Covid-19 pandemic. The decision to reopen schools wasn’t political, he stressed. The government was making every effort to gradually restore normalcy, he said.

Prof. Peiris said that the vast majority of parents wanted schools to reopen. The government had allocated Rs 105 mn for the provision of disinfectants and other required items to schools, he added.

The Minister assured parents that everything possible would be done to protect the student community. Contrary to criticism, schools reopening plan was feasible and could be implemented with the support of all stakeholders, he said.

The government had conducted Year 5 Scholarship examination and the GCE Advanced Level examination in November and December successfully although many expressed doubts. The ministry with the support of the health and security authorities had made arrangements even for several hundred Covid-19 affected students to sit the GCE AL examination, the minister said.

Prof. Peiris urged parents and authorities of respective schools to meet during the January 4-11 period to make necessary arrangements.