Rs 450m damage, 25,000 students affected by floods in SP
Around Rs 450 million worth of damage has been caused to schools in the Southern Province ( SP) by the recent flood, while affecting more than 25,000 students, said SP Education Minister Chandima Rasaputhra.
He said, a report on the estimated damage has been submitted to the Ministry of Education ( MoE) for financial aid.
Massive damage has been caused to computer labs, science labs and school buildings in 101 schools in the SP.
He said around 200 teachers are also fully affected by the disaster, while another 3,000 teachers are partially affected.
Mr Rasaputhra said the SP Education Ministry had provided relief packages to all the affected students, in addition to the relief packages given by the MoE, while a special student- counseling programme has also started.
He said, except for 1 school in Neluwa, Habarakada, which was affected by a landslide, all the other schools in the SP were functioning normally. The 90 students in the landslide-affected school are now studying in a temple in the area.
He noted there was a huge impact on the SP's Education system, which topped the recent O/L and A/L results. He said a special project has been initiated to provide photocopied notes to students.
“GCE A/ L candidates are the worst affected by the recent disaster. We hope the Govt would give due consideration to those flood-affected students in the SP for the exam,” he said.
Meanwh i l e, Wester n Province Education Ministry Secretary, S.G. Wijayabandu said, nearly 300 schools have been affected by the recent disaster, especially in the H o r a n a , M at u g a m a , Bulathsinghala, Agalawatta and Kalutara areas.
He said, 200 students are fully affected and dry rations will be provided to the 300 affected schools, in addition to the relief packages from the MoE.
He added that a comprehensive report on the estimated damages will be sub- mitted to the MoE this week.
Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said, reports on estimated damages are still being received by the Ministry and he would submit a Cabinet paper next week for financial assistance for flood relief activities.
He also added that the number of flood-affected students had increased to 50,000 from the initial estimate of 21,000. - Pix by Sarath Siriwardena - DW&AW