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Preparations begin for Western Province schools reopening
Schools could resume in the Western Province and in isolated areas, considering satisfactory attendance in eight provinces, Education officials say. Up to 60 percent of students showed up in urban areas and 80 percent in rural areas during the first week of resumption, said Education Ministry Secretary Prof. Kapila Perera.
A classroom being disinfected
Schools in the rest of the country could reopen by mid-February along with tuition centres. Last week, the ministry allowed all tuition but for the Western Province and isolated areas. The maximum number of students will be 100 or 50% of the capacity of classrooms. The ministry will hold discussions at 36 divisional levels in the Western Province, including Divisional Secretaries, Public Health Inspectors and school principals.
A final decision will be conveyed to the Education Ministry Secretary who will in turn give a proposal to the Director General of Health Services.
“Clearance is needed before February 3 for us to prepare,’’ Prof Perera said.
The number of students in a classroom will depend on the school population. However, schools with fewer than 50 and 100 students will function at full capacity and have daily classes.
For popular schools in Colombo, Panadura, Kalutara, Gampha, and Horana, a separate system will be implemented to maintain social distancing.
Priority will be for regular classes for this year’s Grade 5 scholarship, Ordinary Level and Advance Level candidates.
Guidelines on safety measures have been issued to schools. But teachers and students in some schools have been infected with the coronavirus disease in the past week.
Schools with fewer than 50 and 100 students will function at full capacity and have daily classes
A fourth grader of Southland school in Galle and a teacher in a school in Hatton have been diagnosed.
The patients and close contacts were isolated, the classrooms disinfected, and teaching has continued.
Last week was also a busy time for students in the Eastern Province sitting the third term exams of 2020 that had been delayed. In the Central Province, classes are held from 6:00am to 6:00pm for O/L students to catch up with delayed lessons. Some schools are understood to be planning Saturday and Sunday classes.
In Jaffna, attendance was high with 75% to 80%. This has compelled school authorities to ignore health protocols and accommodate all regardless of capacity limits imposed.