Shortcomings in Vanni schools to be addressed

[TamilNet, Saturday, 06 April 2002, 17:42 GMT]
"During the past last ten years no school development work had taken place in Vanni region. No permanent buildings have been provided to majority of the schools. Many schools in the region are understaffed, and acute shortage for furniture prevails in these schools," said Provincial Director of Education Mr.I.M.Issadeen who returned after a four-day visit to the Vanni region, Friday.

A team of education officials led by the newly appointed Director, Mr.Issadeen toured the five education zones in the Vanni region -Killinochchi, Thunukkai, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya North and Madhu- and held discussions with the local education officials and principals and representatives of teacher trade unions.

Kilinochchi Central College, destroyed by heavy bombing and shelling by the SLA and Sri Lanka Air Force (Photo: TamilNet)

The discussions centred on prevailing shortcomings and urgent need for development for schools in the region.

Mr. Issadeen assured Vanni parents and teachers that immediate steps would be taken for the development of schools in the Vanni.

Meanwhile, Provincial Ministry of Education Secretary, Mr.K.Shanmugalingam, has summoned all five zonal education directors in the Vanni region for a two-day conference to prepare a Vanni education development programme. The conference will be held in Trincomalee on April 9 and 10, a NEPC official said.

In an additional development, Northeast provincial education ministry said Saturday that all the eleven schools in Maruthankerni division of the Vadamaradchi Education Zone on the Jaffna peninsula, that were closed down due to military operations by the Sri Lanka Army would be reopened soon.

"The decision has been taken following repeated requests made by the people of Uduthurai, Thalaiyadi, Maruthankerni and Aliyawallai, who have returned to their homes since the cease-fire came into force," said an official of the Provincial Department of Education.

Aliyawallai Tamil school, Maruthankerni Hindu Tamil Mixed School, Uduthurai Maha Vidiyalyam and Semibianpathu Government Tamil Mixed School are to be opened on 2 May. The other schools will be reopened later once the repairs to buildings are completed, the official said.

Provincial Director of Education Mr.I.M.Issadeen has instructed the Vadamaradchi Zonal Director of Education to provide necessary assistance to reopen these schools.