No Southern school will be shut down due to fallen roll

Mahinda P.Liyanage - Galle Daily News Corr.

An intensive project to revamp schools exposed to possible closure due to the fall in the schools’ roll, has been formulated by the Southern Provincial Education Ministry, on the instructions of Southern Provincial Minister Chandima Rasaputhra.

For the swift implementation of the project, an Action Committee consisting senior officials of both, the provincial ministry and the Education Department has been appointed, Ministry Secretary M.Y.S. Deshapriya told the Daily News.

The Secretary, rejecting news reports in some media, assured no school in the South would be closed down owing to the decrease in the student population.

The Secretary said, following a special study launched by the provincial ministry, it is found that in 165 of the 1099 schools in the Southern Province, the student population was 30 to 50 students in each.

Accordingly, there are 73 schools with a student population below 30 students and 92 below 50. Sixty seven such schools are in the Matara District, and 35 in Hambantota and Galle, the Secretary said.

“The sharp decrease in the number of students is due to the numerous deficiencies in them, attracting the students to popular and advanced schools in their respective localities.

“A sum of Rs 45 million has been initially allocated through the ministry’s Provincial Special Development Grant (PSDG) for the launch of the project. With the implementation of the project, already identified shortcomings such as lack of adequate buildings, laboratories, libraries, playgrounds and related educational facilities will be rectified, thereby converting such schools into pleasurable places of education for students and parents.

“As such, no school in the Southern Province will be closed due to the decrease in the number of students, the Secretary assured.