• No specific policy in place yet for managing small schools
• Debate grows over possible closures amid calls to strengthen rural schools
• Best approach is for the children to remain in their improved local schools says CPU Prez

More than a quarter of the Government-run schools have fewer than 200 students, according to information released under the Right to Information (RTI) Act to The Daily Morning.

The information provided by the Education Ministry shows that 5,422 of the 19,698 schools administered by the Central Government and Provincial Councils (PCs), or around 27.5 per cent, have student populations below 200.

The RTI response states that there are 10,047 schools administered by the Central Government and 9,651 schools under PCs.

The Ministry further stated that as of now, there are no special policies, strategies, or plans concerning schools with fewer than 200 students.

The information comes amid ongoing public discussion over recent reports that the Government is considering closing a number of schools with very low student enrollment.

Earlier, commenting on reports that more than 1,000 schools with fewer than 50 students could be closed under the proposed education reforms, the Ceylon Principals' Union’s (CPU) President Piyasiri Fernando told The Daily Morning that shutting down small schools is not a solution. "Closing schools is not a solution. Simply gathering more children into larger schools will not be successful. The best approach is to develop existing small schools so that children remain in their local schools instead of seeking admission in city schools," he said.