Education, Transport ministries discuss facilities for extended school hours
View(s):Education Ministry officials met with state and private transport sector representatives including the Railways Department and school van operators to discuss transport facilities for 2026 when the new school hours come into effect.
School hours will be extended for half an hour from next year with schools closing at 2 pm instead of the current 1.30 pm.
Deputy Minister of Education Madura Seneviratne said private bus operators and school van operators had agreed to adjust their schedules according to the new school hours, while the state sector bus transport and railways will also adjust their time tables accordingly.
The new school hours are part of the first phase of the government’s ambitious school reforms programmes. It begins with the implementation of curriculum reforms from 2026 for Grades 1 and 6, and will include classroom periods of 50 minutes with total school time extended by 30 minutes.
This change in time slots is to allow students more activity based engagement in classrooms, he said. The Education Ministry has also begun a new programme with the Transport Ministry to check the road worthiness of school buses and vans.
This will include checks on all vehicles with a sticker being introduced to identify school vans. (DWI)
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