Separate intake from Grade 8 in Sports Schools
The Ministry of Education has released a 27-page circular with intentions of implementing a new plan on intake of new students to Sports Schools. The circular was released after discussions with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, with new regulations for Sports Schools, on intake of students, structures of administrative and financial affairs and on how it could be implemented with the coordination of the two ministries.
The circular covers the existing Sports Schools in all 25 districts and the draft was based on decisions made at the final meeting held recently which was attended by the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs – Namal Rajapaksa, Minister of Education – G.L. Peiris, and principals of all Sports Schools.
Priority has been given to upgrade the quality of life of school children at Sports Schools, while implementing a comprehensive plan and environment which will in return benefit the country with ample talent at international level.
One of the important decisions made during the discussions was to include an elite class in each of the 25 Sports Schools beginning from Grade 8 for students with special abilities in sports.
“There are many occasions when classrooms at Grade 6 become full and this affects Sports Schools immensely, which largely contributes to national sports. Based on this fact and as a remedy to the continuous crisis it was decided to include a separate classroom from Grade 8,” a press release issued by the Ministry of Education states.
According to the new guideline, the intended Grade 8 class, mainly for sports scholarship recipients, should include not more than 40 students. Selecting students will begin from Grade 7 and students with special abilities in sports from government or government-funded schools, could apply.
If vacancies exist within the allocated number of 40, students with special sports abilities could apply from Grade 9 as well, to fill in the slots. These special students, will be under a scholarship which covers food, nutritional intake and lodging facilities in addition to coverage of other special needs.