The Ministry of Education stated that the final decision on reopening schools for the third academic term would be decided after consulting local health authorities.
“Schools were scheduled to reopen on 9 November, just after the G.C.E. A/L (Advanced Level) examination ended. However, with the present Covid-19 preventive measures, we decided that reopening schools should be postponed for two weeks.
“While the new date to reopen schools is for now set to 23 November, we will have to consult the Ministry of Health and the Epidemiology Unit, and then take a decision on when it would be safe to bring students back to school,” Minister of Education Prof. G.L. Peiris explained.
Until such time, the Ministry and National Education Commission (NEC) have taken measures to continue with distant learning modules that were followed during the first wave of Covid-19.
When The Sunday Morning inquired from Prof. Peiris about the accessibility of such methods of education, he stated: “We will continue with the Gurugedara TV programme that is televised over local TV channels, which will be conducted in all three languages. For those who do not have a TV, we have also looked at delivering lessons through radio programmes that will be aired through the Sri Lanka Radio Corporation, again in all three languages. Then, we have the e-Thaksalawa online learning programmes as well.”
Prof. Peiris noted that the curriculums from Grades Three to 13 will be covered through these programmes, adding that as for the students who do not have access, schools will have to conduct lessons when they return.
(The Morning)