The country’s schools will re-open today for the first time since mid-March, with precautions in place to guard against the Coronavirus, ranging from temperature checks, other health safety regulations to staggered school hours and measures for social distancing in classrooms.
Schools will only be opened for students in grades 5, 11 and 13 today.
Children in grades 10 and 12 will be able to go to school from July 20 and classes will begin for Grade 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 on July 27. No decision has been taken yet to reopen schools for Grade 1 and 2.
Education Ministry Secretary Ranjith Chandrasekara said all measures are in place under strict health guidelines to resume schools.
Chandrasekera said that teachers have been informed through school heads that it was sufficient for them to arrive in schools in time for their class periods.
According to Chandrasekera the education ministry will also seek the views of teachers and students over the holding of GCE Advanced level examination. A questionnaire prepared by the ministry in this regard will be sent all schools with Advanced Level classes today.
The Education Ministry stated that principals have been instructed to follow strict safety measures as laid down by the Health Director General, giving full attention to provide facilities such as sick rooms and hand washing facilities in the school.
Parents are also advised against sending children to school if they show symptoms of fever, cough or cold. The Education Ministry also said that as per the proposed special program for school reopening, all teachers will be required to stay in the schools for the period of time only as per their schedules and it is not necessary for all of them to stay until 3.30 p.m. in school premises.
In addition, the Education Ministry observed that the teachers should be allowed to keep records of their arrival and departure as per their scheduled timetable and after finishing their schedule they should be given the opportunity to leave the school premises.