Rs 560 m assistance focusing education:

Boost for Northern education

Rafik JALALDEEN

The Government has allocated Rs 560 million to develop education in the Northern Province. Most of the projects have been accelerated. Northern Province Governor Major General G A Chandrasiri said selected schools in the Kilinochchi district will be reconstructed and provided with facilities.

Some schools will be reconstructed with Indian Government funds while some schools will be reconstructed by the Government under MP Namal Rajapaksa's supervision.

The Education Ministry will provide assistance and facilities to Northern Province schools.

"A handsome allocation has been made to develop the Province, particularly the progress of the education sector. The Government has allocated Rs 560 million for the Secondary Education Modernization Program (SEMP)," Governor Chandrasiri told the Daily News.

However, he said the Government obtained a loan from the Asian Development Bank to fund these projects. Under the SEMP, the Government will develop 375 schools in the Province and carry out a number of projects. Around 9,000 teachers will be trained under the Teachers Development Program.

Nearly Rs 96 million worth of items such as photocopy machines, fax machines, science laboratory equipment, computer laboratory equipment will be provided to selected schools in the Province under the School Development Grant.

Another Rs 14 million has been allocated on training manuals and Rs 50 million will be used for teacher training and workshops.

The Governor said under the Education Knowledge Society Project a training for school principals will be conducted.

Around Rs four million has been allocated for project. During the training 45 workshops will be conducted.

The Government will train another 7,000 teachers under the School Base Assistance Program. Principals, teachers and Northern Province education authorities will be provided computer training at selected training centres in the Northern Province. Chandrasiri said computers and accessories valued at Rs 218.4 million will be provided to 375 schools in the Northern Province.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry will provide 10,000 tables and 10,000 chairs to schoolchildren in the Northern Province within three months. Another 2,000 tables and 2,000 chairs will be provided to teachers.

Most of the projects have been started, he added.