News
Fears of virus spreading among students; few turn up in class
Only half of the student population turned up at school last week when classes resumed for grade 11 in the Western Province.
An average of 50 percent attendance was recorded in the 11 education zones in the province. In the Colombo zone, schools had a record low turnout of 26.81 percent on the first two days of the week.
Meanwhile, in Kalutara, schools recorded the highest numbers with 63.84 percent attending. In the Negombo zone, there was 60.60 percent attendance.
Student attendance was still not one hundred percent at Bambalapitiya Hindu College, though the school adheres to the COVID-19 health protocol
Provincial Education Director Srilal Nonis said average attendance was 45 percent on Monday, 49.8 percent on Tuesday and 48.1 percent on Wednesday. On Friday, attendance was 48 percent.
The teacher turn out was high with an average of 90 percent. Nearly all teachers reported to work on Monday, and 87 percent came on Tuesday and 92.5 percent on Wednesday.
The Education Ministry expressed concern over the low turnout in Colombo.
Education Ministry Secretary Prof. Kapila Perera said schools resumed for the benefit of grade 11 to help complete the syllabus for the Ordinary Level examinations in March.
“Those who want to come to school, come,’’ he said.
He said he had visited a few schools in Colombo, including Nalanda and Devi Balika Vidyalaya and the children had been happy to return.
Classes will continue, he said. “We will not deprive them of their education.’’ However, he agreed that parents are worried about children being infected with the coronavirus disease.
Another issue is transport. Many school vans have not started operating yet and students coming from other districts to Colombo are unable to secure transport.
The Education Ministry statistics said that a number of schools were closed in several zones including two each in Kalutara and Minuwangoda, one each in Homagama, Horana and Kalutara due to various factors such as students testing positive for the coronavirus, students who are first contacts of patients, students in quarantine, and schools situated in lockdown areas.
Meanwhile, the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) charged that the Government has resumed schools amid a surge in coronavirus infections last week.
“The figure reported is more than 700 a day with most reported from Western Province,’’ the secretary, Joseph Stalin said .
He said all schools in the Hatton educational zone had to be closed last week when nine students and two teachers tested positive. In Galle District, 43 students and teachers in 26 schools are positive.
A school in Kurunegala closed due to a positive patient in class.
“Introduce PCR tests or antigen tests for students and teachers before they are allowed in a room,’’ Mr Stalin, said.
Prof. Perera said the decision to test students and teachers has to come from the health authorities and that he is open to the idea. “We can request.’’
