SL has health policy for students, education administrative structure parallel to Health Ministry: Minister

Sri Lanka has a health policy for students and the education administrative structure is parallel to the Health Ministry's structure, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said.

While addressing the World Food Programme (WFP) conference held in Paris, he said that among all its constraints, the Sri Lankan Government is still committed to providing midday meals to students.

“Every year, for primary students, we have health screening, where we measure their height and their weight, and we know exactly what the vulnerable areas are which need more attention.

"We are going forward with these and the Government is committed to continue providing these facilities.

"There are 10,135 public schools and about 300 international schools and 110 private schools. In all the 10,135 schools we have a 4.1 million student population in Primary, Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary grades.

"In the Primary sections, we have a 1.6 million student population. At the moment, the Government is committed, through the yearly national budget, to allocate USD 61 million to provide one million students a midday meal. We are planning to increase the number to 1.6 million students, covering all primary students, by 2024. And by 2030, we hope to cover all 4.1 million public school students, by increasing the Budget allocation to USD 204 million.

"The literacy rate in Sri Lanka is 93%. The enrolment to Grade 1 by the completion of 5 years of age is almost 99%. Except for the students who need special education, all other students get enrolled in schools at the age of 5. The primary completion rate is also the same. There is a 3% to 5% drop-out rate only at the Ordinary Level stage," Minister Premajayantha said. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)