NP Governor wants teaching stopped in war damaged schools in Vanni

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 August 2010, 05:41 GMT]
Northern Province Governor, Major Gen. G. A. Chandrasiri instructed the Education Authorities in Vanni to stop all educational activities in the schools in Vanni that were damaged and destroyed during Sri Lanka government's war on Vanni until they are rebuilt or renovated, in a meeting held in Vavuniyaa Monday with the officials of the Northern Province Ministry of Education and Vanni education authorities, sources in Vavuniyaa said. Governor's order is seen as a blow on the students of Vanni who already had been robbed of their education by the war, Vanni education officials said.

The pathetic state of education in Vanni reported in media having drawn the attention of the international community has irked Major Gen. Chandrasiri, education department circles in Vavuniyaa said.

Uprooted families and teachers from Vanni, allowed to resettle in stages, have managed to begin schooling in their areas where classes are now held under trees without any basic facilities.

Sri Lanka government has not done anything considerable to renovate or rebuild the destroyed schools in Vanni. It had not even provided the basic facilities to children studying under trees seated on the ground.

The schools in Mullaiththeevu, Ki'linochchi, Thu'nukkaay and Madu Educational Zones are the most affected in the war.

The instruction of the governor is an act disrupting the education of Vanni children who have suffered a major set back due to the war on Vanni.

Education of their children is given top priority even among the resettled uprooted Tamils living in misery in Vanni, the sources added.