Rs. 5,000/= only for teachers doing physical or online classes

The Ministry of Education has decided to allocate the Rs. 5,000/= allowance to teachers who engage in teaching activities, whether online or physical. The Morning learnt that so far, this has been confirmed for the month of September only, with October in the pipeline. This additional allowance was granted provided teachers continued students’ education without disruptions, as clarified by Minister of Education, Dinesh Gunawardena. 

The circular on the same was issued today (20). Accordingly, principals and teachers on duty can obtain the relevant allowance from the Zonal Director of Education.

When queried by The Morning if the educational activities of students in Government schools are being monitored, Gunawardena stated that the monitoring system had never been stopped and has been going on since the first lockdown and onset of the pandemic.

“There is a process for everything. We never stopped monitoring the education of children in Government schools. The opening of schools is a process that needs to be handled together between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education. The health and safety of students and educators are of utmost priority, so that is why we have decided to open schools in a step-by-step process,” he said.

Gunawardena went on to say that over 200 government school teachers and principals have already been vaccinated with both jabs of anti Covid-19 vaccines.

In terms of the students, Gunawardena stated that with the vaccination drive in place for children above the age of 12 years is being implemented, and that the process of reopening schools can resume on a ‘grade-by-grade’ basis.

He also mentioned that primary education will resume later once the pandemic in under control.