Education Ministry to consider residence permits in school admission

The Education Ministry said it will issue a new circular to amend clauses pertaining to land ownership, to circumvent problems parents face in admitting children to Grade 1 in public schools.

The circular will be designed to look into the complaints of parents holding per mits instead of deeds to prove residency in the addresses they provide on Grade 1 applications forms.

At a ceremony admitting children to Grade 1 in Matale last week, Education Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said that in view of complaints from parents, he had decided to bring in the changes out of consideration for parents who do not have proper title deeds to their residence.

He said ministry officials have been instructed to make provisions to consider applicants' provincial land issues concerning delays in issuing permits and deeds when drafting the application for 2021 Grade 1 admission. (cc)