Students from grade one to five students to return to school in January
The Health Ministry has given approval to the Education Ministry to begin primary classes (from grade one to five) in government schools from January next year, a Education Ministry senior official said.
However, starting of primary classes will not be applicable to Western province schools due to the high student population, the official said.
The Health Ministry was to issue guidelines within the coming week on guidelines for primary teachers, how to ensure health and hygiene measures were followed by primary students and how many students could be accommodated at a time.
“Plans are going ahead to reopen schools for all grades island-wide except in the Western province. If areas are declared as isolated due to COVID cases, principals can decide whether to continue primary classes in consultation with zonal education officers,” he said.
According to him, at a meeting held between senior health and education officers this week, health authorities refused to give permission to begin tuition classes as the COVID situation needed to be monitored.
He said the Education Ministry reached out to the Health Ministry following concern over young children being exposed to abuse at homes, missing their education due to lack of online study facilities and parents facing difficulties in leaving young children home alone to go to work.
He said further discussions would be held on ensuring safe transport of students, and providing necessary facilities to primary schools.