A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed today between the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Industries and Entrepreneurship, and nine local footwear manufacturing companies to supply free, locally produced school footwear to students. The ceremony was held at the Ministry of Education under the patronage of Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Harini Amarasuriya.
The pilot project, replacing the existing voucher system for schools with fewer than 250 students, will initially cover 1,266 schools in the Western and Southern Provinces. It is expected to benefit 150,521 students in 1,302 schools, 354 lay and monastic students, and 12,146 Sil Matas in 354 Pirivenas.
Local footwear manufacturers selected for the programme, all registered with the Ministry of Industries, have committed to providing shoes with a one-year warranty at Rs. 2,100 per pair, saving nearly Rs. 140 million. The manufacturers will also visit schools to ensure students receive properly sized footwear.
The signing ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunnetti, Secretary to the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Thilaka Jayasundara, Secretary to the Ministry of Education Nalaka Kaluwewa, ministry officials, and local footwear manufacturers.
