Regional learning centres for children without online and distance learning facilities
View(s):All provincial education directors have been instructed to immediately look into establishing regional learning centres for students who do not have facilities for online/distance learning, an Education Ministry official said recently.
The directors were also asked to keep the centres open from 7.00 a.m. till 3.00 p.m.
The Ministry official said at present the identification of centres are taking place and officials at each centre have been instructed to be equipped with at least ten laptops and tabs.
Plans to open regional study centres under health guidelines have already been designed collectively by the State Ministry of Education Reforms, open universities and the Promotion of Distance Education, the State Ministry of Women and Child Development, Preschools, Primary Education, School Infrastructure Facilities and Education Services and the State Ministry of Digital Technology and Investment Promotion, the Ministry official said.
These centres will be activated with coordination of these centres by the zonal level and monitoring and guidance by the provincial level.
Education Minister G. L. Peiris said about 12 percent or more students in the country are affected by the unavailability of internet, radio or television facilities for online/distance education.
The Minister said the Education Ministry’s e-portal ‘Ethaksalawa’ contains 65,000 lessons and about two and half hundred thousand people visit this site every day. Last month 3.5 million users were recorded. -NF