4 May 2021 02:29 am
Past pupils of Devi Balika Vidyalaya are up in arms against the Cabinet paper under which they alleged seeks to relocate the classes of the advanced level science and maths streams to a place in Udahamulla.
Past pupils of the school had formed a group named ‘Devi Balika Vidyalaya Surekeme Sanvidanaya.'
Secretary of the group Nilochana Shrimali said in a press release that well-known businessman Dhammika Perera had offered Rs. 100 million to develop the school but a cabinet paper has been submitted by the Minister of Education to relocate the science and maths streams to Udahamulla Wijayarama School. “We are of the opinion that development of the stream should be done within Devi Balika itself in Sri Jayewardenepura. It is always possible to construct a multi-storey building and increase classroom facilities for the science and maths streams,” Nilochana said in the press release.
However, a joint release from the principal and the management board of the school said only an additional science and maths stream will be set up in Udahamulla. “An additional Maths and science stream will be located at Udahamulla as there is no room in Devi Balika to accommodate a large number of students who have applied for the science and maths streams. “There are 2,500 students in the advanced level streams while an additional 200 students have applied for the science and maths streams after competing their ordinary level exam. The decision to set up an additional maths and science stream was made with the full consent of the academic staff and the Development Board of the schools,” the release said. (Yohan Perera)