In the wake of criticism that heat-wave safety guidelines issued to schools are impractical due to limited facilities, the Education Ministry stated that principals should act on the guidance provided and seek help from the relevant authorities to address ground-level challenges.

When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (16), Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa said the guidelines were issued in consultation with the Health Ministry, with the primary aim of ensuring students' health and safety during periods of extreme heat. “We issue general guidelines, and what we do is provide the overall message. We cannot issue guidelines to suit the specific conditions of each individual school,” he said. He acknowledged that certain schools may face difficulties in implementing some measures, particularly due to shortages of water or other facilities. However, he stressed that there is a clear bottom line to the guidelines - protecting students and safeguarding their health during outdoor activities. “In some schools, there may be no water. In such cases, the principal should contact the relevant authorities and find a solution to the issue.” Kaluwewa added that the Ministry could not assess the situation in each school individually before issuing guidance and that principals, who are most familiar with the local conditions, have a responsibility to interpret the instructions and act accordingly. “Principals know the ground situation. They should understand the message that we give and work along those lines. If they face difficulties along the way, they should take appropriate action.”

The Ministry recently issued a set of guidelines aimed at protecting students from heat waves, instructing schools to ensure access to adequate drinking water, encourage hydration, and relocate students from hot environments such as multi-storey buildings or structures with metal roofs to cooler areas. Schools were also advised to use electric fans and limit outdoor activities during extreme heat.

However, education sector stakeholders have claimed that many schools lack the infrastructure required to implement these measures. Issues such as an unreliable water supply, limited space, and insufficient basic facilities have been cited as major barriers.