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220 days 'must' for schools

by Manjula Fernando

Schools will not hereafter be provided as venues for elections, carnivals, musical shows, exhibitions and other campaigns unless on weekends or school holidays.

A spokesman for the Education Ministry said the decision was taken by Minister Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku in view of the large number of candidates who failed the GCE Ordinary Level Examination in December last year. Only 40 per cent of the candidates qualified to proceed to GCE Advanced Level last year.

"For the past five years continuously, schools had been open less than 195 days each year. They were used for pre-scheduled events and as places of refuge during national calamities such as floods and droughts. National Examinations were also postponed on several occasions to make way for elections," a spokesman said.

Teacher shortages, lack of facilities, insufficient school time and the automatic promotion of students to the next grade at the end of each year were highlighted as other possible reasons for the large percentage of failures at the GCE O/L exam.

The Minister has directed provincial authorities to ensure that schools are conducted at least 220 days a year unless exceptional circumstances intercede.

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