UTV | COLOMBO – Schools in Sri Lanka will recommence academic activities this morning after a 115-day hiatus.
Schools across the country were closed since March, due to the increase in the number of coronavirus infections. Accordingly, academic activities for students of Grade 5, 11 and 13 will commence today.
The Ministry of Education in a statement said classes for Grade 13 students will be worked-off between 7.30am and 3.30pm. Classes for Grade 5 and 11 students will function between 7.30am and 1.30pm daily.
Meanwhile, under the next phase, classes for Grade 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 students will commence on the 27th of July. Under the final stage, classes for Grade 1 and 2 students will commence on the 10th of August.
The Education Ministry has issued strict guidelines to principals during the re-opening of schools.
Schools re-opened last week, but only principals, teachers and other staff were permitted to enter school premises to carry-out cleaning and other preparatory work.
The Ministry has requested parents to avoid sending children to schools if they show symptoms of fever, cough or carrying any other ailments.
Meanwhile, if a student showed any flu-like symptoms while in schools, teachers and authorities have been advised to direct them to a sick room and provide preliminary treatment.
Meanwhile, students, teachers and all authorities have been advised to wear face masks when arriving to schools and also while leaving the premises.
Furthermore, school teachers will be required to remain in schools only to complete their lessons.
The Ministry said unless for a special requirement, no staff member should be allowed to remain within the school premises after 3.30pm.
The Ministry added that since academic activities have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, school authorities have been adviced against conducting term examinations and sports and other extra-curricular activities.
Principals have been also been instructed to complete the syllabus promptly while ensuring the safety of students.
