Education Ministry awaits green light for infrared thermometers
View(s):The Education Ministry is waiting for a positive response from the Health Ministry to purchase infrared thermometers, as part of the plan to reopen schools next month.
The Ministry’s consent had been sought amidst a controversy over the purchase of the infrared thermometers, as education sector trade unions and a medical union claimed they were not required.
Education Ministry Secretary N. H. M. Chithrananda said, as soon as written instructions from the Health Ministry are received they can go ahead with the purchase.
He said the plan was to issue at least one infrared thermometer to each school, and accordingly Rs 84 million had to be allocated for the purchase. “Tenders will be called for and after the bids are evaluated the tender will issued,” Mr Chitrananda said.
This was decided after the Education Ministry decided to reopen schools with health guidelines in mind. A series of programmes to sanitise school premises, including some leading Colombo schools, took place this week. Some of the major programmes were sponsored. The final phase of school sanitisation is expected to begin next week.