Free school text book distribution starts on December 7

Anuradha KODAGODA

Distribution of free school text books for the next year will start on December 7 in all provinces including the North and East and the Education Ministry has taken steps to ensure that there will be no shortage of text books or problems in distribution of school dress uniform material Education Ministry Secretary Nimal Bandara told the Daily News yesterday.

From 2010 admission of children for year one will be handled by the Zonal Directors of Education and enrollment of students to other grades other than those selected on the results of examinations will be handled by the principals. These procedures will be effective from 2010, he said. "We have already filled 1,908 vacancies of principals Grade I and will fill all the vacancies in the other grades of principals and the criteria of selection would be to assess their skills and seniority," he noted.

A group of teachers from Colombo was sent to Vavuniya to hold revision classes for GCE A/Level students every week and there is another revision program for GCE O/Level students of the North and East also organized by the Ministry with teachers from their own areas as well as Colombo to enable the students to cover up lost time during the armed conflict, he said.