Stalin says schoolchildren greatly stressed without extracurricular activities

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Schoolchildren were greatly stressed because schools no longer conducted extracurricular activities, Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) General Secretary, Joseph Stalin, said.

The Ministry of Education must immediately commence counselling services at schools and recommence extracurricular activities including sports, he said.

“Because of COVID-19, we could not properly conduct schools. Now, schools have reopened, but there are no extracurricular activities. The Ministry of Education wants to finish the syllabus and hold exams,” he said.

Stalin said that the third term would end in April 2023 and children were under great stress.

“It’s important that we educate the children. We have to figure out how to do this. Extracurricular activities are as important as academics,” he said.

The CTU General Secretary said that children must take part in sports, etc., which helped children understand the importance of team work and stay healthy.

“A lot of kids were at home for two years. Some of them have put on weight and most of them are stressed.”