Tuition classes for more than 100 students await permission to re-open
View(s):Conducting tuition classes for more than 100 students at a given time will be permitted only after an expert technical committee analyses the COVID-19 situation and gives permission to allow mass gatherings, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said.
The Health Services Director General has given permission to conduct private tuition and tuition classes in the Western province from April 12 onwards, Minister Wanniarachchi told Parliament last week. “According to the Health DG, permission was given to conduct tuition classes in the Western province two weeks after schools re-opened. The Education Ministry Secretary said schools were re-opened on March 29 adhering to health guidelines,” she said.
Responding to a question raised by Kurunegala district Parliamentarian B.Y.G. Ratnasekare she said there was still no way of allowing tuition classes to be conducted with more than 100 students as the COVID risk still remained.
“The maximum number of students in a class has to be limited to a maximum of 100 at a given time. If seating capacity is less than 100 it should not exceed 50 percent of the seating capacity. This applies to mass classes as well and students should maintain one metre distance between seats,” she said.
Mr. Ratnasekare said the majority of students, especially those from lower-middle income families, attend mass classes with tuition fees with a low cost.
“If health authorities consider raising the maximum number of 100 students in each class it will benefit thousands of students who cannot afford costly individual or group private tuition classes,” he said.
However at present, all classes should follow health guidelines issued by the Health DG earlier this year on conducting tuition classes. According to health guidelines, teachers were instructed to restrict the duration of a class to a maximum of two hours.
“If the classes are conducted in air conditioned rooms, the time duration should be a maximum of one hour. Maintain and improve natural ventilation as much as possible,” the Health DG said.
Tuition class administrators were told to avoid distributing printouts in class, and to keep such printouts in a central location to be picked up by the students.
“Before a class opens it is essential to clean all desks, benches and frequently contacted objects and surfaces such as door handles and stair handrails with soap water or liquid detergent. Floors should be cleaned using bleach agents before each class session begins. Times tables in the classes should be arranged to avoid meal times,” the Health DG said. (NF)