Vanni students said facing hardships

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 January 1999, 01:23 GMT]
The North-Eastern Provincial Council (NEPC) is unable to transport school equipment to the Vanni said the Secretary of the Educational Ministry of the Council. He was speaking at a ceremony held at the Uvarmalai Vivekanantha College in Trincomalee in connection with the inauguration of educational reform there.

New students were admitted to the year one according to the reform.

He said according to research conducted in the North-Eastern Province many children are not being sent to schools by their parents. Those who are attening school faces hardships. Some of them go to school with out being able to have their breakfast, and many of them live in refugee camps he said.

"Number of students leaving schools in the middle of the schooling is nearly 30 percent in the north-east while it is 5 percent in the rest of the island. Furthermore, 80 schools have been closed for various reasons" he said.

He said 3553 Tamil medium teachers are required for the primary schools. But there is a shortage of 1500 teachers.

In total, including other levels, there are 4500 vacancies for teaching posts in the north-east.