High rate of school drop-outs in war-affected areas

14 Oct 2011 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

School drop-outs still remain high in the war-affected area of Vakarai in the Batticaloa district with as many as 72 students having dropped out of school within a few months, officials said yesterday.

Vakarai Police OIC Palitha Jayaratne said the civil defence committees established by him in his division had identified 72 such students who were staying at home to help their parents in their livelihood activities and added that all these students were from poor families.

“Their parents are mostly fishermen or daily wage earners. I have noticed some of these children engaged in fishing or making dry fish. We have been able to send them back to schools,” Inspector Jayaratne said. “I have taken steps to provide them with necessary assistance and with the help of donors I have given the students exercise books, uniform material, school bags and shoes. With the help of the school principals I am also continuing to monitor whether they are attending school or not.”

Inspector Jayaratne said there had been instances where some parents were not interested in sending their children to school. Vakarai is an area that remained under the control of the LTTE until it was liberated in 2006. (Kelum Bandara)

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High rate of school drop-outs in war-affected areas

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