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| Sunday, 6 February 2005 |
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Teachers urge donors to bypass officials by Jayantha Sri Nissanka Schools affected by tsunami will be renovated with modern facilities before the next school year with donor assistance, spokeswoman from the Task Force for Rebuilding the Nation (TAFREN) told the Sunday Observer. Contracts have been signed on Monday, January 31 with 176 local and foreign donors to rebuild damaged schools. However, many schools within the 100 metres buffer zone will be shifted to safe locations but it will take some time as these schools have to be rebuilt all anew. Until then these schools will temporarily function in the present location, she said. For example, a school like Ratgama Devapathiraja Vidyalaya built adjacent to the beach though it was unaffected will be temporary allowed to function until a new school is built elsewhere. But a school like Hegalla Maha Vidyalaya will be renovated with the assistance of donors with modern facilities. Teachers of Hegalla Maha Vidyalaya, CWW Kannangara, Gintota Maha Vidyalaya, Vidyaloka and Pereliya Jinarathana Vidyalaya requested urgent facilities like office and laboratory equipment, text books, school uniforms, bags, sports items, books for the library, equipment for computer, aesthetic and homescience rooms, etc. They requested donors to directly contact the schools and identify their needs without consulting officials. Gintota Maha Vidyalaya vice-principal Samson Silva said that now the school conduct classes in two shifts due to the collapse of six buildings. He said that a conducive environment should be prepared for the benefit of the O/L and A/L students. Peraliya Jinaratana Vidyalaya in close proximity to where the train was washed away was the most damaged school in the Galle District. This school had 640 students on roll and 30 teachers. Tsunami has only left one building in this school. All other buildings have been destroyed. Tsunami also killed 17 students and three teachers of this school. Many students and nine teachers including the Principal have been displaced. Now the students were attending classes in other schools in the area. Teachers sign in a nearby school. However, the staff of the school has decided to reopen the school tomorrow (February 7) using the only remaining building and 12 temporary huts. The school will be relocated elsewhere as half of the school land falls within the 100 metre buffer zone. |
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