(UTV | COLOMBO) – Education Ministry Secretary Prof. Kapila Perera said that his Ministry is preparing to start schools at the earliest while adhering to the recommendation given by the Ministry of Health.
However, the Ministry of Education has not yet taken a final decision regarding the dates for the commencement of schools,” he said. The Secretary said that the education of children could not be started as soon as schools reopen, adding that the first task should be to identify the specific problems of students who have been confined to home and online education for a long period.
He also said that schools which have been advised by the health sector to start first should prepare for it about a week in advance. According to the guidelines issued by the Director General of Health Services, schools will be reopened in three phases, with Grades 1 to 5 in schools with less than 200 students under the First Phase.
Under the Second Phase, Grades 1 to 5 will be started in schools with more than 200 students and all grades will be started in schools with less than 100 students. Also, under the Third Phase, Grades 10,11,12 will be started in schools with less than 200 students and all grades will be started considering the mitigation of the COVID-19 pandemic.
