BY Buddhika SamaraweeraPointing out that there is no suitable environment for the reopening of schools in the context of the current Covid-19 pandemic, the Health Ministry has stated however that if the education authorities create a conducive environment for the purpose, the health authorities would be able to approve the reopening of schools. The EFSL has also requested the authorities to empower provincial, zonal and divisional education officers to work with the health sector authorities to reopen smaller schools. “Regardless of the teachers strike, schools in Sri Lanka have been closed for over 18 months due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Students who had access to Internet based education through their teachers, constituted only half of the student population. The mental health and emotional issues faced by locked in students compound all of the above.

Source: The Nation September 07, 2021 18:56 UTC