School uniform material to be provided twice a year - Minister

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

For the first time in the country’s history, school uniform material will be provided twice a year from 2013 in line with the 2013 budget proposals, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said.

An additional set of uniform material will be issued to students in rural areas on the advice of President Mahinda Rajapksa and parallel to the 2013 budget proposals.

This set of uniform material will be issued in addition to the formal set of uniform material, Minister Gunawardena said.

The minister was speaking at the commencement of the free uniform material distribution programme at the Education Ministry yesterday.

The Government has allocated Rs 1,750 million for providing 3.9 million students with uniform material. Accordingly, school children in National and Provincial schools, including student Bhikkus in Pirivenas in 98 Education Zones will receive uniform material for 2013.

“At the initial stage, all Zonal Education Offices will receive cloth through the countrywide uniform material distribution programme. “After that the uniform materials will be distributed among school by the Zonal Education offices, ” the Minister said.

“Uniform material will be distributed to 98 Zonal Education Offices throughout the country including the North and East and the Zonal officials will thereafter take necessary steps to distribute the material among students,’ Minister Gunawardena said.