Stalin sounds an ominous alarm over govt. attempts to reopen schools before February 15

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Opening up schools in the Western Province, without a proper plan or research, was a recipe for disaster, General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) Joseph Stalin said yesterday, commenting on the government’s attempts to open schools before 15 February 2021.

Stalin told The Island that there were many schools in areas with a high incidence of COVID-19.

“There are many vulnerable areas within the Colombo City limits. The government has to subject teachers, school staff and others who come to schools to PCR or Rapid Antigen Tests and ensure that COVID-19 patients don’t come to schools. Many children don’t even wear masks properly.”

Stalin said even in schools outside of the Western Province a significant number of students had tested positive for COVID-19. When a student was found infected, only those in his or her class were asked to undergo self-quarantine, he added.

“The situation in the Western Province is much graver. We are not against the reopening of schools. What we are calling for is a proper plan.

Earlier yesterday Minister of Education, G.L. Peiris said that he would urge the government to give priority to teachers in the vaccination programme against COVID-19. The Minister said so after visiting a number of Colombo schools to look into the COVID-19 prevention preparations.