Schools to re-open tomorrow in adherence with COVID-19 guidelines: DGHS

COLOMBO (News 1st): Schools across the island excluding those in the Western province and the isolated areas, will re-open on Monday (Nov. 23) to begin the third term of studies, education authorities said. According to the Ministry of Education, schools will open tomorrow (23), only for students of Grade 06 to 13. Furthermore, all Piriven institutions and Seela Matha institutions excluding those located in the Western province and isolated areas will resume studies tomorrow (Nov. 23). The decision to re-open schools was taken following in-depth discussions between all concerned parties, the Director-General of Health Services said on Sunday (Nov. 22). "As a result, it was decided not to re-open schools in the high-risk zones such as the Western province and to open the schools in the areas where lower number cases have been reported; based on epidemiological data the contacts of the infected cases in these areas have been identified," Dr. Asela Gunawardena, the Director-General of Health Services said. Dr. Gunawardena went onto note that what one must understand is that if we are to wait until the virus is eliminated, a date on the re-opening of schools cannot be finalized. Therefore, the Director-General of Health Services noted that all the instructions issued by the Ministry of Health with regard to the re-opening of schools previously should be followed from tomorrow as well. "The Ministry of Education, Zonal-Education Directors and Principals are required to follow the set guidelines and Directors of Health Services at Provincial and District levels and all Medical Officers of Health have been informed to supervise whether the set health protocols are adhered to," Dr. Gunawardena further noted.