Connect with us

News

Tuition classes to be allowed to resume under guidelines from Jan 25 with eye on O/L exam

Published

on

By Saman Indrajith

Education Minister, Professor G.L. Peiris told Parliament yesterday that no country in the world had been able to achieve the optimum results through an online education system.

Responding to a question raised by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, the Minister said that the government was carrying out a just and reasonable campaign to counter the ill-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Schools are shut down in many countries such as the UK, the US and France. The success or failure of a campaign should be measured only at the end of that campaign and not at its beginning. Only five months have passed since the appointment of the Cabinet of Ministers. The government has put in place a systematic campaign to counter the negative impact of the pandemic,” the minister said.

“Nowhere in the world has the online education system achieved all its desired results,” the Minister said.

Opposition Leader Premadasa said that there were 300,000 teachers who conduct private tuition classes and around 25,000 institutes conducting tuition classes in the country. They created around one million direct and indirect job opportunities. Owing to the pandemic most of them had lost their employment and action should be taken to permit them to reopen soon. “It is the children who have been mostly affected by the closure of the tuition classes. It is now proven that the online education system cannot achieve the expected results as many children do not have technical capabilities to participate in online classes. If this continues further there would be an imbalance in the job market,” the opposition leader said.

Prof Peiris said that the Ministry might consider allowing tuition classes to resume from Jan 25 according to health guidelines.

He said that his ministry had conducted discussions with health authorities to prepare a set of guidelines to be followed in tuition classes. Grade 11 classes are scheduled to resume in the Western Province on Jan 25. He said that tuition classes might be allowed to resume at the same time provided that there was an assurance that health guidelines would be followed when tuition classes resumed.

Professor Peiris said that he had discussions with the health authorities ten days ago and he was informed at the time not to resume tuition classes immediately.

The Minister said he was told to resume tuition classes after resuming school academic activities in stages.

As a result, the Minister said that tuition classes would be allowed to resume from Jan 25.



Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Southern Expressway land leased to Rajapaksa allies for Rs. 10,000 – Minister

Published

on

Bimal Rathnayake

Leader of the House and Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake told Parliament yesterday that a service area on the Southern Expressway had been leased for 99 years to individuals linked to the Rajapaksa family for just Rs. 10,000.

Responding to questions raised by Opposition MPs Rohitha Abeygunawardena and Ajith P. Perera, Minister Rathnayake also claimed that the Rajapaksa associates had obstructed the construction of several other approved service areas along the expressway.

He said that the Southern Expressway project suffered from serious irregularities, including deviations from feasibility studies, which he said led to the wastage of billions of rupees.

Highlighting specific discrepancies, the Minister pointed to the construction of two interchanges that were not part of the original expressway blueprint.

“One is at Kapuduwa, just 5 km from Godagama in Matara, serving only traffic to and from Colombo. The other is at Bedigama, 6 km from Beliatta,” he said, adding that each interchange cost over Rs. 10 million to build.

By Saman Indrajith

Continue Reading

News

Hike in bus fares if Israel-Iran conflict results in higher fuel prices

Published

on

Gemunu

A hike in private bus fares could be on the cards next month if global fuel prices continue to climb as a result of the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, according to Lanka Private Bus Owners’ Association (LPBOA) President, Gemunu Wijeratne.

Wijeratne told The Island yesterday (20), that the annual bus fare revision, scheduled for the 1st of next month, could lead to a revision in fares, should fuel prices in the global market remain on an upward trajectory.

He said that while fuel prices are already high due to the prevailing geopolitical tensions, the Association is cautious about pushing for a fare increase immediately, warning that such a move could adversely affect the industry in the current economic climate.

However, Wijeratne emphasised that if international fuel prices stabilise and remain at their present levels, a fare hike may not be necessary.

“The situation is being closely monitored. We hope that the global market stabilises, but if fuel prices continue to rise, we will have no choice but to adjust fares accordingly,” he added.

By Pradeep Prasanna Samarakoon ✍️

Continue Reading

News

Committee probing alleged abuse of power by IGP approves inclusion of two additional witnesses, currently abroad

Published

on

The Committee of Inquiry investigating allegations of gross abuse of power by IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon convened for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday, under the Chairmanship of Supreme Court Justice Preethi Padman Surasena. The Committee also includes Justice W.M.N.P. Iddawala and E.W.M. Lalith Ekanayake, Chairman of the National Police Commission, the Parliament Media Division said.

It said that as of Thursday, 28 prosecution witnesses have testified before the Committee, including seven on that day (Thursday).

The Committee has also approved the inclusion of two additional witnesses, currently abroad on official duty, to testify after their return to the country on 26 June. This request was submitted by Additional Solicitor General and President’s Counsel Dileepa Peiris, and Deputy Solicitor General Rajitha Perera, representing the Attorney General’s Department.

Attorney-at-Law R.S. Weerawikrama, appearing on behalf of IGP Tennakoon, gave his consent for the two witnesses to be summoned for examination and cross-examination upon their return. The Committee granted the request.

Although initially scheduled to reconvene yesterday (20), proceedings have been postponed to Monday, 23 June, following a request by Weerawikrama to allow additional time to prepare the IGP’s defence. With the Attorney General’s Department not objecting, the Committee approved the postponement.

The next sessions will be held from 23 to 25 June, commencing at 9:30 a.m. daily. During this period, 15 witnesses are expected to testify on behalf of the Respondent IGP.The Committee will reconvene again at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, 26June, following the conclusion of the defense’s witness testimonies.

Continue Reading

Trending