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Harsha highlights hardships in UP schools
View(s):Several schools in the Uva Province face hardships due to lack of facilities, alleged UNP Parliamentarian Dr Harsha De Silva.
Dr De Silva said, “Our reports indicate that approximately 29% of schools in the Halgamulla area in Badulla, function with only one or two teachers. Further, 25% of the schools in Lunugalla, Badulla, are also faced with a similar problem.”
“Approximately 64% of schools in Wattegama, Moneragala, do not have proper sanitary facilities,” he added.
An official affiliated to the UPC education ministry dismissed the allegations, saying, “In the Moneragala District there 521 urinals, while the need is for 405 urinals, that means an excess. The problem however lies with toilets for males, where there are only 265, while the requirement is for 623 toilets.”
“We are taking measures to address this problem as figures for this year show an 85% improvement in such sanitation facilities, which is an increase of 11% from the 74% in 2013,” the official added.
“We will make the necessary improvements by next year. Funds for the development of sanitation facilities in these schools will be allocated from the Provincial Council Budget and donations from organisations like the World Bank,” the official said.
Taking up the matter concerning teachers, the official said, “Our records show that five schools from the entire UP, function with only two teachers, but this is justified, as most of these schools have only eight or nine students. For example, a school in Haputale functions with only two teachers, as it has only nine students.”
“The problem however, lies with the need for subject teachers, and we are taking steps to address them. We intend to hire several English and Information Technology diploma holders by next year,” he added.
Meanwhile, attempts by Education Times to contact Education Minister Bandula Gunawardhana, failed, as he was not available to comment on the matter.