- Rs. 105 m allocated to all schools for health protocols
- TUs point to inequalities and failed education system
By Sarah Hannan
Despite grades six to 11 in government schools commencing their third academic term on 23 November and ending on 23 December in most parts of the country, it is still unclear whether the syllabus was covered in such a short span of time.
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Children flocked in front of their school to go home.
Photo Pradeep Dambarage[/caption]
Earlier last week, the Ministry of Education announced that grades one to five in state schools, except in the Western Province and isolated areas, are to reopen on 11 January 2021.
It was then noted that schools will reopen for the academic year of 2021 for the rest of the grades from 11 January as well.
With the education sector yet again being burdened with these confusing and unclear announcements given by the Ministry of Education, The Sunday Morning spoke to some of the stakeholders to clarify how they interpret these announcements and whether the alternative methods of studies have been successful so far for all children who are confined to their homes due to Covid-19.
Minister of Education Prof. G.L. Peiris said: “We are currently in discussions with the Minister of Health, the Secretary to the Ministry of Health, and the Director General of Health Services in this regard. It is not possible to open all schools in the country at once, but it should be done gradually. The right to education of our children must be guaranteed. We will discuss the gradual opening of schools; the health guidelines given to schools, principals, and committees; and the authority given to schools to act in accordance with each guideline.”
WP and isolated areas under review
Prof. Peiris also stated that the Ministry of Education is reviewing the situation in the Western Province and other isolated areas every 10 days and looking at the possibility of reopening schools in these areas. He noted that the education sector is awaiting the advice of the Ministry of Health to assure a safe environment is available for children to attend school amid the pandemic.
“The Government has already allocated up to Rs. 105 million to all state schools to equip the premises with the necessary handwashing facilities and to supply other material that is required to follow the Covid-19 preventive health guidelines that are implemented for schools,” Prof. Peiris added.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has donated 1,393 handheld thermometers to the Ministry of Education to provide to schools. In addition to that, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Sri Lanka Representative’s Office also donated another 1,000 handheld thermometers to be given to schools.
Prof. Peiris also pointed out that parents too have a responsibility in ensuring that children take the necessary precautions and in the event they have a cold or a fever, they are to be kept at home and be taken to a doctor for medical assistance.
Instructions unclear
Meanwhile, Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin, speaking to The Sunday Morning, said that the way the lessons were conducted online, using some extent of electronic media, has not been 100% successful.
“We are not telling the Government to keep the schools closed; we are only asking them to do it in a methodical manner. Even when schools reopened for the third term on 23 November, it was not well received, as parents were reluctant to send their children to school. Some areas had to close the schools just days into reopening, as these areas went under isolation,” Stalin explained.
He added that not every child has access to a TV, radio, smartphone, or computer fitted with an internet service provider to follow online lessons. Although a study pack was to be introduced, that too had not happened.
“All these have now contributed towards a failed education system. In other countries, they restructured their education system, understanding that the pandemic would last longer. In our case, no such thing took place, and we have to still follow the old method of education,” Stalin noted.
Stalin also pointed out that a paediatrician from the Southern Province had alleged that children are now developing learning difficulties due to these methods of education, as they are not able to focus on a small screen for a longer period, which is causing them to strain their attention as well as their eyesight.
“For children, it is difficult to continuously stare at a screen for long hours, especially if it requires them to stay focused. In a physical classroom, we can break the monotony that builds up and find out whether a child is losing focus. Even the online lessons need to be tailor-made so that it is interesting for the child to follow,” Stalin reiterated.
No third term exams
The Ministry of Education has also decided to forgo the traditional promotion examination for the year 2020, given that students and teachers had to undergo a quick adaptation to the pandemic education system.
Accordingly, students in grades one to 10 for 2020 will be promoted to their next grade.
Stalin raised concerns over this method and said: “There are some students who had no access to alternative educational methods, which essentially means they missed lessons for a near-nine-month period. Once they are promoted to the next grade, their ability to understand the lessons is going to become another challenge.”
Guidelines to follow
The Ministry of Education stated that school health promotion activities should be carried out in accordance with Circular No. 15/2020 dated 11 May 2020, School Health Promotion Circular No. 2019/2, and the instruction letter dated 19 November 2020.
In addition to that, a health promotion officer is to be appointed for each school. The teacher who will be appointed to these positions will have to observe whether the health guidelines are followed at the school premises during the times the schools are in operation.
Moreover, a health promotion committee too needs to be established under the leadership of the respective school principal. The committee is to comprise a public health inspector (PHI), grama niladhari (GN), the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the area police, a member of the old pupils association, and a member of the school development committee. This health promotion committee will meet fortnightly to review the respective school’s health protocols and preventive measures.
Furthermore, it has been advised that cafeterias in school hostels be open in a way that maintains social distancing.
The Ministry of Education has given instructions to provincial and zonal education offices to consider the health guidelines. Should the term dates change in reopening schools, they could do so under the regulations of Circular 97/15 issued by the Education and Higher Education Secretariat.
According to the said circular, all state schools should conduct lessons for 210 days of the year, while state-approved private schools and pirivenas are to operate for 188 days of the year.
Moreover, since the 2021 GCE Advanced Level (A/L) examination will take place in August 2021 and GCE O/L examination in December 2021, the August and December term holidays will have to remain unchanged.
