Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that education should not become a burden for children during the post-disaster recovery period and that priority must be given to safeguarding their psychosocial well-being.
The Prime Minister made these remarks during a discussion with education authorities of the Nuwara Eliya District on measures to restore educational activities and reopen schools following the recent disaster.
Although the Ministry of Education has decided to reopen schools island-wide on December 16, the Prime Minister noted that provincial and district authorities have been granted the discretion to decide on reopening schools in affected areas, based on prevailing conditions.
She further emphasized that schools located in high-risk areas must obtain recommendations from the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) prior to reopening, with special attention paid to access roads and infrastructure. The Prime Minister also stated that flexibility should be extended to teachers and students affected by hardships, including allowing the wearing of comfortable attire.
During the meeting, district education authorities reported that despite numerous challenges, educational reforms in the Nuwara Eliya District are progressing, with 51 per cent of teacher training activities already completed.
The Prime Minister stressed that collective efforts are essential to overcome current challenges and to emerge stronger in the aftermath of the disaster.
