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First week in school: More focus on psycho-social recreation than academic activities
View(s):For primary students of both government and government-approved private schools, which are reopening tomorrow, the first week will mainly focus on creating a positive atmosphere and getting both students and teachers to gradually adapt to the academic process.
A guide with a list of psycho-social activities has been prepared by the Education Ministry’s counselling unit in consultation with the Health Ministry and the primary education branch of the State Ministry for Women and Child Development, Preschool and Primary Education.
E-copies of the guide have been sent to principals to be forwarded to primary school teachers.
Singing, drawing and a number of group activities have been included for both indoors and outdoors. “1,2 Up- 3,4 Down” “Sathutin Paasal Yamu (let’s go to school happily), “Mata Puluwan (I can), “Neerogeeva Indimu (let’s stay healthy) are some of the titles of the group singing activities to promote positivity and health and hygiene.
The Education Ministry said the primary objective was to give time for students to get to know their teacher and classmates.
“About 60 percent of the student population did not receive online education. During this period, the teacher is able to identify the student, his/her improvement, the teacher gets the opportunity to build the relationship with his/her class, get students to find interest in physically attending schools, give teachers time to resume academic work gradually, to meet parents and discuss, to enter the teaching/learning process with a positive mind,” an Education Ministry statement said.
The ministry has also made arrangements to compile video lectures on child neuropsychology, identifying different ability levels, enhancing digital skills in teaching/learning process and prevention of COVID-19 among children. Lectures are to be conducted by a team including child specialists, a senior lecturer, a paediatric neuropsychologist, and an expert in disease control attached to leading hospitals and the University of Colombo.
Meanwhile, Education Ministry Secretary Prof. Kapila Perera has instructed the education authorities to promote a song compiled to uplift the morale of teachers with schools requested to play it on a daily basis.