The Ministry of Education has cancelled its earlier decision to reopen schools in the Western Province next week.
Minister G. L. Peiris announced yesterday that on the advise of health authorities all schools in the Western Province, except those in isolated areas, will resume academic activities on 15th February.
The Minister said however, the decision to reopen schools islandwide for all grades on 15th March remains unchanged.
All schools, except those in the Western Province and isolated areas, have resumed academic activities as of now.
A decision was taken to reopen schools in the Western Province after the Education Ministry had obtained the recommendations of the District Development Committees of the Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara Districts, in this regard.
Based on the recommendations, a decision was taken earlier to reopen all schools in the Western Province, except those in high-risk areas, on 15th February.
Minister Peiris said the District Development Committee had stated that there are no issues in resuming academic activities at 412 schools out of 492 in the Colombo District next week.
Based on the recommendation, 73 out of 76 schools under the Colombo Divisional Secretariat, 29 out of 31 schools in Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, 17 out of 49 schools in Kaduwela, 11 out of 26 schools in Padukka, 07 out of 32 schools in Maharagama, 24 schools from 27 in Ratmalana, and other schools from Kollonawa, Homagama, Kesbewa, Dehiwela, Moratuwa and Seethawaka areas will reopen next week.
The Colombo District Development Committee has further announced that nearly 80 schools in the Colombo District will not be able to resume academic activities on the 15th of February.
However, the decision to reopen schools in the Western Province on 15th February has now been scrapped. (NewsWire)