10 June 2020 12:05 am
GCE A/L postponed to Sept.7 and Grade five exam to Sept. 13
Putting an end to the long school vacation, all government schools will reopen from June 29 in four stages, the Education Ministry announced yesterday.
Education Minister Dullas Alahapperuma told a news conference that the decision to reopen the schools was taken after discussion with the President, the Education Ministry, the Health Ministry officials, the Higher Education Ministry, Cabinet Ministers and officials of the Presidential Task Force.
He said at the first stage, circulars would be sent to schools requesting all teachers, principals, non-academic staff and School Management Boards to report to schools from June 29 to July 3.
The minister said there was no need for schoolchildren to attend schools for a further week because the classrooms would have to be cleaned and disinfected against the spread of COVID-19.
“The students in Grades 5, 11 and 13 will have to attend schools from July 6 at the second stage, which will continue for two weeks until July 17,” he said. “The third stage will begin on July 20 with students in Grade 10 and 12 being asked to attend. It will continue until July 24. The fourth stage will begin on July 27 for Grade 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9.” However, the minister said no decision has been taken as yet to reopen schools for Grade 1 and 2.
“Classes in Grade-3 and 4 will begin at 7.30 a.m. and end at 11.30 a.m. Grade-5 to begin at 7.30 a.m. and end at 12.00 noon. While Grades 6, 7, 8 and 9 will begin at 7.30 a.m. and end at 1.30 p.m. and Grade 10, 11, 12 and 13 to begin at 7.30 a.m. and end at 3.30 p.m.,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said the GCE Advanced Level (A/L) examination scheduled to be held on August 5 has been postponed to September 7 and end on October 2 and the Grade-5 scholarship examination scheduled to be held on August 3 was postponed to September 13.
The minister requested the public not to rely on fake social media news items but always to keep in touch with news and alerts that appear in the official websites of the Examination and Education Department.
In line with the Government’s decision to re-open all government schools from June 29 in four stages, all Catholic schools will also be re-opened on the same dates, National Director of Catholic Schools Fr. Ivan Perera said.