New initiatives for distance and online learning from next week onwards

Education unions concerned for students in remote areas

With more than 1.5 billion children including more than 4.3 million Sri Lankan students affected, the Education Ministry is set to launch its series of educational television programmes from next week as a long term measure to meet the educational needs of students.

Education Reforms Minister Susil Premajayantha said even if schools resume classes, the Ministry hopes to continue with the TV programmes to conduct the lessons.

“We will make sure these lessons are uploaded on YouTube so even if the students miss classes on TV, they will be able follow the lessons later,” he said.

He said students would also be provided a hotline that they could call to seek clarifications on any of their subjects. The following numbers could be contacted - 1377, 011-7601702 or 071449131.

Despite the plans to conduct classes on TV there had been concerns that some students in remote areas who do not have access to TVs, computers or similar devices would still not have access to these lessons.

Education trade unionist Mahinda Jayasinghe said even though the concept was good, the issue of reaching out to all students still remains.

Meanwhile, UNICEF said the COVID- 19 pandemic had disrupted education around the world. School closures due to the pandemic have affected around 1.5 billion children.

“Teachers have gone above and

beyond to support their students and to help them keep learning by whatever means possible. Many have embraced new ways of teaching, including online teaching, over radio, television or hand- delivered materials,” a UNICEF spokesperson said.

“While children in many countries are still waiting for schools to fully reopen, education for some has continued – thanks to these champions for children,” they added.

They said these teachers were celebrated and the organisation had called for more investment in education, especially for the 463 million students who remain cut off from education due to a lack of access to remote learning.

“It is time to reimagine education, where every child is connected to the internet and to quality digital learning,” they added.