Upcountry schools face closure

By Nandana Kehelgamuwa

Many schools in the Hatton education circuit in the Central Province are facing the threat of closure due to the non availability of an adequate number of teachers. There is also no balance in the tutorial staff with a shortage in particular of Sinhala medium teachers as well as English teachers.

The teaching of English is badly affected as there about 15 vacancies for English teachers. Parents complain that after the departure of the director in charge of the Sinhala medium on transfer to another zone, no replacement has yet been made by responsible officials.

They allege the directors supervising the Tamil medium are not interested in the issue. Though the situation has been brought to the notice of the relevant authorities, parents say nothing seems to have been done to address the problem. In addition to staff problems other issues too are said to be prevailing.

It is reported that there is much discrimination in the issue of sports items. It is alleged that some schools which lack playgrounds have been issued sports items while those possessing a playground have not been issued similar items.

It is also reported that though many requests had been made for the provision of educational facilities to schools in the interior areas, only those in the urban areas are given preference, which parents say is a gross violation of children’s rights.