The re-opening of schools on Monday for the third term might cause a factor to emerge another massive COVID cluster in the country, Teachers-Principals Unions said.
The unions like the Principals’ Services Union (PSU), Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) and Ceylon Teachers’ Service Union (CTSU) raised this point.
They told Daily Mirror that the sudden decision taken by the Education Ministry to re-open schools on Monday was not a prudent decision at this point of time.
Principals’ Services Union President Sunil Premathilaka said no Government official discussed the matter with any of the Union members prior to the decision.
“Starting of schools except in isolated areas, especially in the Western Province (WP) will not help cover the school syllabus at all,” he said
Meanwhile, Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin said they were not against the ministry’s decision, but there should be a proper programme before starting the schools because the third term school vacation would come in the first week of December, he said.
“The Government should have re-opened the schools only for the students in grade 11, 12 and 13 and then, decide what should be done accordingly,” Stalin added.
