Upgrading 1000 schools to national level would lead to 3000 rural schools being shut down
View(s):The Government plans to upgrade 1000 schools to national schools will result in the closure of around 3000 schools in the country the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU ) claimed recently.
CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said this programme would see the closure of all schools that have less than 100 students.
“Most of these schools are in rural areas and attended by children from the lowest socio-economic group. To take the schools away from them will deprive them of their right to education,” Mr Stalin said.
“What happened to the previous government’s programme – ‘the nearest school is the best school’,” he questioned.
“Also this sends out the wrong message that only national schools have good quality education.
The whole concept is wrong,” he said.
He said the Government can best use these funds to develop backward schools and give quality education to all in keeping with C.W.W. Kanangara’s concept.
Moreover, the Cabinet approved the Education Ministry’s proposal to upgrade 1000 schools in the country to national schools, last week.
Accordingly the first phase of the programme plans to have at least one school for each of the nine provinces. In the second phase 673 schools would be developed on the basis of national schools. In the last phase the remaining 373 national schools would be upgraded. (CC)