CTU urges Govt. to wait for ‘all clear’ sign before reopening schools
View(s):Last week the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) dismissed the Government’s plan to open schools this month. They said the country is not yet ready for this to take place.
CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said reopening schools when the number of COVID-19 victims are skyrocketing is dangerous for the 4.3 million school children who will be exposed to the virus.
He said the decision to re-open was taken on April 20 when the figures stood at 197 COVID-19 patients.
But now the number of patients is above 650 and is increasing daily.
Also many schools are still being used by the police and the Tri-forces for the isolation of suspected victims, and as living quarters, Mr Stalin said.
In this backdrop reopening schools on May 11 will only make the Government’s attempts to contain the disease futile, he added.
“We request the Government to wait until the health authorities give the ‘all clear’ sign to re-open schools,” Mr Stalin said. (CC)