School development programme:

Fourteen schools delisted

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardana said 14 schools have been temporary removed from the 1,000 secondary schools development programme following protests by parents.

The minister said parents of students of these schools protested against the removal of the primary section from these schools after the schools were selected for the 1,000 secondary school development programme.

Gunawardana addressing media at the Education Ministry on the 1,000 secondary school development programme, said yesterday the primary section has to be removed once a school is selected for the 1,000 secondary schools development programme.

The minister said education officials have been advised to temporarily remove the schools from the 1,000 secondary schools development programme if there were protests.

He said 14 schools in several provinces have been removed from the programme so far.

"However, these schools will be considered for re-entry to the programme if the parties involved in the protests can agree to a consensus. If those parties continue their campaign, such schools will be permanently removed from the programme and a new school will be entered to the list," the minister said.

The 1,000 secondary school development programme to transform school education to prepare the country towards a 'knowledge hub,' commenced last year. The programme is carried out under the theme 'Transforming School Education Project' (TSEP).

The objective of TSEP, is to enhance access and quality into primary and secondary education to provide a foundation for knowledge-based economic and social development of the country.

TSEP will support Sri Lanka's Education Sector Development Framework and Programme (ESDFP) 2012-2016. Under the first phase, 405 secondary schools have been selected to be upgraded.

"The schools, which come under the 1,000 school development programme will have all facilities for teaching since the programme commenced to develop 1,000 selected secondary schools with the objective of solving education related issues and shortcomings in disadvantaged rural schools," Minister Gunawardena said.