Grade 1 admissions: Proximity to school gets priority

By Isuri Kaviratne

The proximity to a school will be taken into consideration according to the newly approved circular for year one admissions, but those living in the relevant local council areas will also be eligible for admission, the Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Ariyarathne Hewage said.

“Among the applicants, the ones in the closest proximity would get full marks whereas it will gradually reduce according to the distance. So, a parent who is living within close proximity to a school situated in another Local Council area too can apply to that school as priority would be given to the child’s convenience in coming to the school,” he said.

Instead of the one kilometre radius rule that was in practice, applicants within a particular local council area would be able to submit their applications. The move is likely to increase the number of applicants to each school. Mr. Hewage said forging of documents too would be a problem as the applicants’ residence would be checked against the electoral list issued by the Election Commissioner’s Secretariat .

“This won’t take much time as all the data will be computerised,” he said adding that the selection procedure has been scheduled to be completed by the end of December so that the new term for Grade One would begin from the second week of January 2008.The one kilometre distance and the quota system which were rejected by the Supreme Court are not included in the newly formed circular.