DailyMirror.lk:
More than 200 schools have been closed down during the last five years due to the dwindling of the number of students and the resultant unusual student-teacher ratios at them, a document tabled in Parliament reveals.
Among the 35 schools shut down in 2005, there were schools namely Delikanuangara Primary Vidyalaya in Giriulla and Hapathgamuwa Vidyalaya in Madahapola with only five students and four teachers each.Also closed down were Gopalleva Vidyalaya in Henamulla with one teacher for five students and Kahatagasthenna Primary Vidyalaya and Ganasarapola Primary Vidyalaya with two teachers for five students each.
Most schools closed down had, more or less, similar student- teacher ratios. Education Minister Bandula Gunawardane revealed these facts to the House in response to a question by DNA MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
In 2006, 14 schools were closed due to the same situation. Of them, Napana Bogaskumbura Primary School in Gunnepana had boasted of two teachers on its roll despite having only one student. Besides, Ulladupitita Vidyalaya in Warallagama had three teachers for three students.
The Minister informed that 37 schools were shut down in 2007, 17 in 2008 and 103 in 2009.
Asked for comments, Minister Gunawardane told Daily Mirror yesterday that there are such schools still in operation in the country. In the Gampaha district alone, he said that he identified a school with two students and one teacher.
“Recently, I went to a school with only the principal remaining there without any student. Provincial authorities have second thought in closing down a school due to political sensitivities. Some narrow minded politicians try to gain political mileage over the closing down of schools. They do not understand that it is a sheer waste of human and physical resources to run schools in this manner. These hollow politicians believe that the shutting down of one school is a step towards the opening up of a prison. This slogan is widely used for political expediency,” he said.
Therefore, he said, the Chief Ministers are hesitant to take a rigid stand in this regard fearing political compulsions. “Now, we have an increased aged population. Our child population is dwindled. Also, parents are now used to send their children to urban schools with better facilities. It has eventually led to the closure of some schools at village level. The government’s proposal to develop secondary 1000 schools throughout the country will resolve all these problems ,” he said.