Schools that reopen are to make use of any available extra space to set up a sick room to temporarily hold children that may fall ill, until they are transferred to a hospital or handed over to a parent/guardian, the Ministry of Education stated. Instructions had been set out spelling the need for a sick room facility in schools, according to the health guidelines issued to enable the commencement of schools amid the Covid-19 pandemic. However, when The Sunday Morning contacted Ministry of Education Secretary N.H.M. Chithrananda, he said that the construction of new buildings for a sick room in each school would not materialise. “Schools are already short of funds to even fix adequate handwashing stations and purchase soap, cleaning fluid, and disinfectant. They have been instructed to manage with the little amount that has been allocated, which is about Rs. 20,000 per school. We have therefore informed the school principals that they would have to use any available space; teachers’ quarters, staff room, empty classrooms, or a corner of a school hall/classroom, to set up a sick room facility.” Chithrananda said that the Ministry of Education is not in a position to make large allocations to build new rooms in schools at the moment, and if schools are looking at building such facilities, they should inform the provincial secretariat of the relevant district secretariat’s education department and seek funds from well-wishers to build such facilities. “The school will not need a sick room with medical equipment as it is to be used to isolate a child or staff member who shows symptoms, until they are transferred to seek medical attention. Therefore, a space to temporarily hold them till medical assistance arrives should be set up with the available space in the school,” Chithrananda opined. When asked whether schools have already started building handwashing stations and fixing the necessary water supply facilities, he revealed that school academic and non-academic staff will be called into schools a week prior to the reopening date to make arrangements and prepare for the safety measures that need to be followed. By Sarah Hannan