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Reopen National Education Colleges, urge teachers

29 Nov 2021

  • Colleges presently used as quarantine and treatment centres
BY Buddhika Samaraweera Teachers’ trade unions have urged the Government to take immediate action to reopen the National Colleges of Education islandwide, which have been closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation. Addressing a media briefing yesterday (29), Ceylon Teachers’ Service Union (CTSU) General Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe said that 19 National Colleges of Education with more than 8,000 students have been closed at present. He also said that the closure of such was problematic at a time when even primary school students have been called back to school. “Many National Colleges of Education have now been turned into quarantine centres and Covid-19 treatment centres. As a result, students’ clothing and other belongings that were at hostels have become unusable. Therefore, in addition to preparing a programme to reopen these Colleges of Education immediately, the Government should also provide some allowances to the students,” he added. Jayasinghe further commented on the spread of Covid-19 among students and teachers in a considerable number of schools. He said that although the Government was keen to reopen the schools, no arrangements had been made to maintain the schools that had been reopened. “Schools have not been given sanitary equipment. Teachers and principals have to undergo Covid-19 tests at their own expense whenever a Covid-19 infected person is reported from their classes,” he added. Education Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Education Ministry Secretary Prof. Kapila Perera were not available for comment. Teachers’ trade unions recently accused the Education Ministry and other relevant authorities of not having prepared a programme to properly implement the Covid-19-related health guidelines in schools, claiming that as a result, teachers and students in nearly 1,000 schools have been reported to be infected with Covid-19.


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