Renovated old schools open as new- CTSU
View(s):The Ceylon Teachers Service Union (CTSU) is alleging that, despite a claim by the Ministry of Education (MoE) that 500 new projects were being declared open under the ‘Closest School is the Best School’ project, some of them were actually renovations.
CTSU Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe said they have found that some 50 of these buildings were only renovated and not newly constructed, as claimed by the Ministry.
He said that, in some cases, old buildings have only been re-painted and shown as new buildings, while some buildings had failed to maintain proper standards.
Mr Jayasinghe said there were instances where the Principals had raised objections about the buildings, but the authorities had forced them to arrange for opening ceremonies, to coincide with the Government functions organised.
He said it appeared that the Government was using it as propaganda, ahead of the upcoming Presidential elections.
“We will be submitting a report to the MoE and are calling upon the Government to stop opening renovated old buildings as new buildings,” he added.
Meanwhile, the MoE, in a statement, said that, if there were complaints regarding the buildings built under the ‘Closest School is the Best School’ project, the Engineer of the school projects could be informed.
- DW