Voucher system for school uniforms to continue despite criticism: AVK
View(s):The Ministry of Education (MoE) has decided to continue with the Voucher system for school uniforms, despite protests, but will consider increasing the payment for material, said Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam.
A special Committee has been appointed to review the current payment scheme to students, for a possible increase in the amount paid, for which the MoE will bear the cost. “There has been criticism from various parties about the Voucher system, but we have decided not to withdraw the scheme, as there will be lots of irregular ties,” Minister Kariyawasam pointed out.
He said, “Even if the system needs to be changed, it cannot be changed immediately, as it would take time to order the material and provide it for school uniforms.
The MoE has already discussed the shortcomings, if they were to revert to the previous scheme. Among them were storage, transportation, administrative, additional staff for distribution, the possibility of low quality material reaching the market and irregularities of tenders.
Earlier, Ministers Sajith Premadasa and Sarath Fonseka criticised the Voucher system, instead of the previous system of issuing material.
- Damith Wickremasekra