‘Lanka’ newspaper reveals that the Ministry of Defence has taken steps to set up Army camps in schools which have been recommended as ineffective by the Ministry of Education.
At the Attadassi Junior School at Watagedara, Thihagoda in Matara District an Army camp of 3rd Gemunu Regiment ‘B” Group is being established. The Campaign for Safeguarding Schools has pointed out that the Ministry of Education has stated thousand secondary schools will be set up among selected schools while closing down eight thousand schools.
According to Defence Ministry sources depending on the significance of lands, Army camps will be set up in 22 Districts enrolling students in relevant schools to other schools. The General Secretary of the Lanka Teachers Union, Mr Mahinda Jayasinghe has stated more than 600 schools have been closed down since 1997.
‘Lanka’ newspaper had earlier revealed that Devapathiraja Vidyalaya at Rathgma and Dangalla Junior school at Kirindiwela were converted to Army camps.
LT