Low attendance in schools

• Attendance in schools in Southern Province between 30 and 40 percent
• More than 75 percent attended school in the Moneragala and Bibile areas
• Attendance in schools in the North was between 60 and 70 percent

By Krishan Jeevaka Jayaruk, D.G. Sugathapala, Dayaratne Embogama and Sumanasiri Gunatilleke  

Attendance in schools that re-opened yesterday in several areas in the country, had declined in a large proportion when compared to the actual strength.   

Southern Province Director of Education Nimal Dissanayake said attendance in schools in the Province was between 30 and 40 percent. He said in one of the schools only 100 out of 600 students had turned up. However, he said the attendance of teachers was satisfactory.  

Deputy Director Sudath Samarawickreme said only 2,959 out of 31,000 students in Matara Education Zone were present. He said only 37 out of 2,460 students in grades 6 to 11 and 30 out of 1,258 students in the advanced level classes in the Matara Rahula College attended school. 

North Central Province Director of Education Nirmala Ekanayake said 14 schools in the North Central Province were not reopened yesterday on the instructions of the health authorities. She said parents refrained from sending their children to schools in fear of any possible danger to them from Covid infected individuals in the vicinity of schools.  

Meanwhile five schools in the Hatton Education Zone were closed yesterday. Zonal Director P. Sridaran said he refrained from reopening the five schools in view of COVID -19 infected persons reported from several villages in the area. He said the teachers were instructed to refrain from visiting other areas.  

More than 75 percent of students in the Moneragala and Bibile areas had attended school. Principal of Wellassa Maha Vidyalaya in the Bibile Zone S.B. Jayawardene said more than 50 percent of students were present.  
Attendance in schools in the North was between 60 and 70 percent. Health authorities had taken steps to disinfect all school buildings and furniture before re-opening the schools. The students and teachers had adhered to health guidelines.   

Meanwhile President of the Ceylon Teachers’ Union said average attendance in schools that re-opened was less than ten percent. He said the parents refrained from endangering the life of their children and accused the authorities of failing to provide adequate facilities to save children from any possible danger. 

• Health authorities had taken steps to disinfect all school buildings and furniture before reopening the schools
• 14 schools in the North Central Province were not re-opened yesterday on the instructions of the health authorities