Schools spruce up for re-opening
Cleaning up dust-ridden classrooms, refurbishing rooms prepared for sick children, installing hand washing and sanitising facilities, and getting teachers, lecturers, caretakers, and transport providers to vaccinate, are all taking place as schools, preschools, and higher education institutions gear up for opening after months of closure.
According to the latest public activities permitted by the Director General of Health, opening of schools is to be done gradually with fewer than 200 students in each school to be re-opened initially this month. The Education Ministry has been advised to observe the situation and recommended re-opening of other schools.
Pre- schools can be opened with 50 percent of the capacity this month and day- care centres are allowed to operate as usual. Universities and higher education institutions are requested to comply with health guidelines, while reducing the physical presence in classes and combining with virtual studies. Vocational training institutes can have 50 percent of students at a given time. However, permission for tuition classes has not been given. Examinations in physical attendance are allowed with strict health guidelines.
By October 15, most primary schools with fewer than 200 students in each school are to re-open, according to provincial education authorities.
“Out of 10,155 schools in the country, initially 3,884 primary schools [from Grade 1 to 5] have been identified for re-opening,” Education Ministry Secretary Prof. Kapila Perera said.
Provincial, zonal education directors have been instructed to visit these schools and check on readiness, cleanliness and facilities.
Parents, past pupils and school development societies have been asked to help school authorities clean up.
Provincial Director of Education ( Western Province) Srilal Nonis, told the Sunday Times, that there are 462 schools in the province with fewer than 200 students. Out of that, 204 have fewer than 100 students.
“The majority of primary schools with less students are in the Kalutara district. Measures have been taken to clean and prepare the schools for re-opening by mid-October. Sickrooms and handwashing facilities were installed previously, but they need to be cleaned and ready for use,” he said.
Uva Province Governor A.J.M.Muzammil, said primary schools in the province are ready to be opened by October 18, and vaccinations for teachers is mandatory.
Southern Province Ministry of Education, said schools with fewer than 200 students will open by October 15.
While the Education Ministry said ‘ sisu- seriya’ and inter provincial transport services workers are being vaccinated against COVID-19, the State Minister of Transport, Dilum Amunugama, said a special programme will register all private vehicles transporting school/ pre-school students.
Re- opening of universities depends on how soon the 20- 30 year age group can be vaccinated, said the University Grants Commission.
UGC’s Chairman Pro f. Sampath Amaratunga told the Sunday Times all students need to be vaccinated by the end of October, so that studies for at least fourth year students can begin in November.
S t ate university Vi c e Chancellors have been told to collect information of undergraduate students who have been vaccinated.
There are about 150,000-160,000 undergraduates in state universities and about 100,000 students in non- state higher education institutes.
“The majority of our senior lecturers and professors are above 60 years of age and in the high risk group. University students stay in hostels with some hostel complexes housing about 2,000- 3,000 students. They are young and may be asymptomatic but can spread the virus,” he said.
Prof. Amaratunga said it has not been decided yet to make the vaccination card mandatory while entering university premises, but discussions with the Health Ministry are to take place.