Delay in issue of text books affects education in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 February 2008, 05:47 GMT]
Nearly half the student population in Jaffna peninsula schools is yet to receive their free text books from the Sri Lanka government although nearly two months of the first school term have elapsed, educational society sources in Jaffna said. The Jaffna Department of Education has requested the Northern Province Governor to take steps to expedite distribution of free text books.

So far only 53% of the students in Jaffna schools have been issued the free text books while the rest 47% are using old books from last year students, a provisional arrangement made by the Education Department.

Only 30% of the text books for grades seven and eleven have been issued.

The educational progress of grade eleven students sitting for the G.C.E. O level examination in December 2008 is affected by the lack of text books, education officials said.

Though the Ministry of Education and higher circles in government continue to issue statements that the text books for the students of Jaffna peninsula have been shipped from Colombo, nearly half of them have not received their text books.

The revised editions and work books issued periodically by the Ministry of Education and issued to students in other provinces do not reach the students in Jaffna peninsula, they added.

The educational activities in Jaffna peninsula schools will face severe drawback if the situation is not immediately remedied, they pointed out.