New lease of life for rural schools through Jathika Saviya programme

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

The Ministry of Education has allocated Rs. 90 million for the development of rural schools in five provinces under the "Jathika Saviya" programme.

The Jathika Saviya programme which was initiated by the Ministry of Education in 2006 aims to develop underdeveloped rural schools with the assistance of National schools.

Under this programme physical resources including infrastructure facilities are developed while educational and non-educational assistance is provided by National schools.

The "Jathika Saviya programme is currently in full swing with 98 National Schools engaged in developing 160 schools," Education Ministry sources said.

This programme is being conducted by the Ministry of Education on the advice of President Mahinda Rajapaksa following his visits to the underdeveloped schools in the Anuradhapura district.

Accordingly, the first and second phases of the programme have been successfully completed, sources added. He further pointed out that most of the principals, teachers and students of National Schools are giving their fullest cooperation to this programme during the first and second phases of the programme, the Government was able to look into the needs of students while developing a better relationship between students", he said.