A peaceful protest was held by the People’s Movement for Protecting Schools calling the government to stop burdening the parents to bear education costs.
The movement also proposed the government to also allocate six percent of the gross domestic product for education instead of pressuring parents of school children.
The protest groups lamented that the parents are already facing economic hardships due to the economic crisis.
The protestors pointed out that the cost of education has increased due to the economic crisis therefore the parents are finding it difficult to manage the expenses.
The prices of books, school bags, stationary items have increased while the school maintenance fees, electricity and water bill costs are also covered by the parents.
They also added that the annual school refurbishing and repair cost burdens have also befallen on the parents.
The protest groups also said that many schools have closed down and others are on the verge of closing down due to lack of school teachers.
Pix by Indika Handuwala
Customs have detected 228 mobile phones and tabs valued at over Rs 30 million left behind in the duty free shopping complex at the Banaranaike International Airport today, Customs officials said.
Read this week’s Sunday Times for your interesting articles including the ’’5th Column’’.
Leave Comments