News
Catholic head disagrees it’s safe to reopen schools
Education Ministry said schools had been checked and secured by the armed forces and police and were ready to start Term Two academic activities tomorrow
The Government yesterday decided to re-open state schools on a phased out basis, from tomorrow, so as to provide maximum security for the children.
Grades 6 to 13 will begin tomorrow, while grades one to five will begin on May 13, a statement from the Government Information Department said.
Earlier the Government had decided to re-open all government schools for all grades tomorrow.
In Colombo, Police have also made special parking arrangements for vehicles to drop off the students.
Meanwhile the Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo said Catholic schools in the Western Province would remain closed.
Last week, the Colombo Archdiocese strongly criticised the government for not taking adequate security measures for schools and churches in the country.
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith expressed his dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the situation after the Easter Sunday bomb explosions in three churches and leading hotels.
He said not enough was being done to maintain security and therefore he had requested that Catholic schools in the Western Province be closed this coming week.
The Ministry of Education said all schools had been checked and secured by the armed forces and police and were ready to start Term Two academic activities tomorrow.
A ministry communique earlier said the decision taken was in keeping with information received from the armed forces, police and intelligence divisions which had given verbal and written assurances that vigilance would be maintained and continuous security be provided to all schools. All parcels taken into schools will be checked at the entrance.
Principals, teachers, parents and past pupils of schools have been called to form committees to provide security to students.
The ministry will also forbid the overloading of children in school vans for security reasons.
Provincial government authorities have arranged additional security for schools. Central Province Governor Maithri Guneratne said students have been asked to carry their schoolbooks in their hands and not to use backpacks or the usual bags in order to prevent confusion over a bag being seen as a potential bomb.
“We have requested them to carry their writing books only in their hands or have them in a see-through bag,” Mr. Guneratne said.
Schools have been requested to allow children have their textbooks stored in the schools or to be allowed to keep them at home.
Mr. Guneratne said attempts will be made to cover the academic activities lost last week, using free periods or Saturdays.
Southern Province Governor Keerthi Tennakoon said when schools open in the province tomorrow, in addition to the presence of the security forces, the Special Task Force and the police, schools will be supplied with 800 private security officers. He also said an order had been placed for bomb-detecting equipment in schools.
“We cannot let eight people control our lives: we must face this and take control of the province,” Mr. Tennakoon said.
He was supported in this sentiment by Western Province Governor Asad Salley who said: “We are opening all schools. The government will be crippled if people stay indoors.”
Mr. Salley said from Monday vehicles would not be allowed to park in front of schools. “Cars and vans will be given only three minutes to drop or pick up students from schools,” he said.
The education ministry will provide counselling for schoolchildren traumatised by the loss of parents, siblings, relatives or friends in the bomb blasts. Assistance from volunteers in other countries will be sought.
Arrangements have been made for schoolchildren to obtain benefits from Suraksha insurance in addition to the Rs. 1 million promised for victims of the bomb blasts.