The primary sections of all schools across the island will reopen from Monday (October 25), says the Secretary to the Education Ministry.

Prof. Kapila Perera mentioned this in a communiqué directed to all provincial chief secretaries, provincial secretaries of education, provincial and zonal directors of education, principals and other relevant officials.

Permission to resume in-person education in primary classes has been granted by the Director-General of Health Services.

Previous guidelines issued with regard to preparations and providing transport services for reopening schools need to be followed by the academic and non-academic staff members, the education secretary said further.

Meanwhile, the primary sections of all Catholic schools island-wide will also reopen on October 25 in line with the decision taken by the government, the Bishop’s House announced this evening.

Sri Lanka began reopening schools for academic activities under several phases effective from yesterday (October 21), nearly six months after they were closed amid a surge in coronavirus cases in the country. Accordingly, the primary sections of schools with less than 200 students were reopened to recommence academic activities. 

Schools in Sri Lanka had to be closed repeatedly amidst the Covid-19 pandemic while this is the first time that the country’s schools are reopening since being closed in April this year, following a surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths.

In the meantime, the Special Committee on COVID-19 Control, in a virtual meeting convened today, decided to commence the primary sections and grades 11 and 13 in all schools after having discussions with the education and health sectors.