Colombo: Schools across Sri Lanka will remain closed for a week from Monday, the education ministry has announced, as the island nation grapples with its worst economic crisis since gaining independence in 1948.
Sri Lanka is struggling to find vital funds to finance imports of essential goods, including fuel, food and medicines.
The current stock of petrol and diesel in the country is enough for only a few more days, and is now limited for use in essential services such as health, public transport and food delivery. Long queues of drivers have been seen at gas stations in Colombo, as some wait for more than 48 hours to fill their vehicles.
With economic turmoil worsening, the Ministry of Education announced a “holiday week” for all schools across the island, following an official review of “notifications regarding the distribution of fuel” in the country.
A circular issued by the ministry on Sunday said, “The week from July 4 to July 8 will be declared as a holiday week for all government schools and government recognized private schools in the island.”
The latest announcement comes after schools in Colombo and other urban areas were closed for two consecutive weeks. Officials had earlier replaced the lessons with online classes, citing transportation difficulties due to the fuel crisis.
The extended shutdown has raised concerns among Sri Lankans, as some are concerned about how the crisis will affect the future of younger generations.
Sri Lanka Humanity Party leader Prof. Chandima Vijegunvardhan told Arab News, “Merely closing the school will ruin the future of the next generation.”
“It is sad that the political blunders of MPs are affecting the education of children.”
The economic downturn has triggered a political crisis, with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa being accused of corruption and economic mismanagement. Anti-government protesters have taken to the streets for months demanding his resignation.
Vijegunawardene said that the government should implement a system that allows students to attend schools nearest to their homes.
“This is a scheme that allows children to attend schools near their homes, so this rule may also apply to teachers and other staff,” he said. “Policies and principles can be changed with the changing times.”
Ismeth Fatima, principal of Zahira College in Colombo, said that students should not be denied education in schools.
“Let them go to a nearby school and transfer the teachers to their native places so they can cut down on travel,” Fatima told Arab News.
He said, ‘It is sad that the country has to go through this test. “School is a school – we cannot expect children to learn properly in their home environment.”
Online learning as an alternative has worried teachers too, with MRM Rifki, the principal of Al-Humaisara National School located in Beruwala, a town 60 kilometers south of Colombo, warning that students at his school are in new virtual classrooms. Huh. failed to participate.
“Online education is a complete failure,” he told Arab News.
Women’s rights activist Srin Saroor said the COVID-19 pandemic has already deprived children in Sri Lanka of their educational experiences two years ago.
“Now with this ad-hoc management of the education system, Sri Lanka will lose our history and glory.”