(UTV|COLOMBO) – The second school term started yesterday with a low student turnout recorded at a number of schools.
Only classes from year 06 – 13 started yesterday amidst tight security following the Easter Sunday bombings.
While the attendance of students in most schools in major cities was very low, students attendance in some rural areas was relatively high.
Extensive security measures by the Police and Security Forces were in place with a majority of school authorities expressing their satisfaction over the measures to secure schools.
Speaking to a prominent online news portal, Principal of Royal College B. A. Abeyrathna said that the student attendance of the school was only 309.
“We have done our level best to ensure the security of our students. Checking of the school bags and other similar measures are all undertaken by the OBA, the parents and the students.” Abeyrathna said.
According to Ananda College Principal S.M.Keerthirathna, the student turn-out was only 50 out of nearly 6500 students in the school. “There are 1,260 students in the Primary Section, and the rest of the students are supposed to attend. The school has taken all necessary security measures in our capacity, and most of these measures we have been doing even during the time there was no any security threat. I assume that parents do not feel safe enough to send their children to schools yet,” Keerthirathna pointed out.
Deputy Principal of Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo S. Dematagoda told a prominent online news portal that only 37 students attended classes yesterday. She pointed out that all the teachers reported to work yesterday. Dematagoda stated that the school has taken all security measures in its capacity to ensure the safety of the students.
School authority of Anula Vidyalaya in Nugegoda said that the student attendance of their school was 51, out of approximately 3,500 students excluding the Primary Section.Meanwhile, the Education Ministry in a statement said that the student attendance was “relatively lower” than usual. The statement points out that schools in urban areas recorded a low attendance while schools in rural areas reported good student attendance. “Some schools report 80% student attendance,” the statement also said.
The Education Ministry expressed confidence that the situation will improve and the school operations will soon get back to normal. According to the statement, Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam expressed his gratitude to parents who sent their children to schools without falling trap to some politically-driven groups who spread false information on security provided to schools.
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