Education Ministry stalls bid to buy 16,000 temperature screening devices
On the advice of the Health Services Director General, the Education Ministry has cancelled the purchase of 16,000 temperature screening devices to be used in schools and educational institutions, a top official said.
Education Ministry Secretary M.H.M. Chitrananda said the procurement had been stalled as the Health Ministry and the Sri Lanka Medical Association had deemed it unnecessary to check the temperatures of the country's 4.3 million schoolchildren.
He said Health Services Director General Dr. Anil Jasinghe had said checking the temperatures of students in the morning rush will only create a congestion at the entrance to schools facilitating the chances of the spread of the COVID-19 infection.
The government had earlier allocated Rs. 480 million to prepare for the re- opening of 10,073 schools, the National College of Education, Teacher Training Centres and privenas for the second academic term. Accordingly, the amounts distributed to a schools range from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 110,000 depending on the student population. The money was to be utilised to instal hands washing facilities, buy masks and temperature checking devices and meet the expenses with regard to coaching children in social distancing other health practices.
Tenders were called after the Education Ministry came up with the plan to provide temperature screening devices to all schools. A state institution and Softlogic company were shortlisted from more than 50 bidders.
The original plan to distribute masks to all schoolchildren has also been abandoned. The Education Ministry now says it will only provide masks to 1.2 million students from less privileged schools. This, too, would only be a one time exercise. Students in other schools are expected to buy their own masks.
The Ministry said the monies that were meant for the temperature screening devices from the allocated COVID-19 funds for schools will be held in a special account and released when schools needed funds for related activities in the future.