Rs 450m for 3,000 Mobile Laboratory Kits
View(s):The Ministry of Education (MoE) has procured 3,000 Mobile Laboratory Kits (MLK), at a unit cost Rs 150,000, for schools which do not have such facilities.
“The decision to procure MLKs, costing Rs 450 million, was taken after considering the high cost of permanent structures for laboratories,” said Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariawasam.
The MLKs will be distributed to schools in all 9 Provinces, from Grades 6 to 11. Each of MLK is equipped with the necessary instruments, as well as chemicals necessary for practicals. The distribution breakdown is, Western Province- 448 Units, Central Province- 440 Units, Northern Province- 249 Units, Eastern Province- 322 Units, Southern Province- 306 Units, North Western Province- 403 Units, North Central Province- 173 Units, Uva Province- 249 Units and Sabaragamuwa Province- 410 Units.
Minister Kariawasam said the MoE plans to build permanent Labs for all schools, but this process would take longer and need larger Budgetary allocations.
Meanwhile, a Science Education Developmental Programme is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Science, Technology & Research with 450 Teachers and Teacher Instructors already trained as Resource persons to encourage students to study Science subjects. - Damith Wickremasekera