Reopening schools in September uncertain: GL

Minister of Education Prof. G.L. Peiris today (9) said reopening schools in the first week of September, as planned previously is in doubt due to the current COVID situation.

 It was planned to fully vaccinate the teachers and other non academic staff by end of August before systematically reopening schools in the beginning of September. But with the present COVID situation it is uncertain that this is possible, the Minister said at the media briefing organised by the SLPP.

In this backdrop, expansion and strengthening of online education is of paramount importance, especially for the sake of the under privileged children. But if the teachers are determined to stay away from this mechanism, from whom are they trying to take revenge? - the pressure is on the under privileged children who badly need this facility, Prof Peiris lamented adding that it is very clear that there is a conflict of social justice.

He said by this morning (9) 87 per cent of the academic and non-academic staff of schools have been vaccinated with the first dose and requested if there is anyone who has not done so to immediately obtain the vaccination. Prof Peiris also said that a programme has already been made to inoculate people between 18 and 30 in the next two weeks.