• Individualised, practical decisions to be made post-development of zonal schools

In the wake of reports that the Government is to close schools with fewer than 50 students, the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education stated that there is no uniform decision to close all such schools, and that necessary decisions will be made based on the circumstances of each school.

Responding to claims that more than 1,000 schools may be closed under the proposed education reforms, Secretary to the Ministry Nalaka Kaluwewa told The Daily Morning that decisions are taken on a case by case basis. 

“There is no preparation to close all schools with a lesser number of students. First, we develop a school in the respective education zone, and only then we will decide. There is no purpose in maintaining certain schools with fewer students when there are other schools in the area. In such instances, we may close them,” he said.

He also said that a programme is already underway to strengthen schools in each education zone, with closures considered only when maintaining a particular school proves impractical. 

“This is nothing new. School closures have been happening for a long time. We can’t make decisions that apply everywhere because the situation in one school is not the same as that in another,” he explained.

It was reported recently that out of the 10,194 schools islandwide, a total of 1,486 have fewer than 50 students on roll. The Northern Province has the highest number of such schools (275), followed by the Central Province (240), the Sabaragamuwa Province (230), the Uva Province (158), the Eastern Province (141), the North Western Province (133), the Southern Province (125), the North Central Province (111), and the Western Province (73). The relevant authorities have indicated that steps would be taken to close schools with low enrolment and relocate students to nearby schools.

Meanwhile, the Ceylon Principals’ Union (CPU) has expressed opposition to the reported plan, warning that transferring students to nearby schools would increase overcrowding in urban classrooms. 

“Closing schools is not a solution. Moving children into larger schools will not work. The best approach is to develop small schools so that children remain in their local schools, instead of seeking admission in schools in urban areas,” CPU President Piyasiri Fernando recently told The Daily Morning.