NICs for schoolchildren in double quick time

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Schoolchildren over 16 years will be provided with National Identity Cards (NICs) within a short period under a new program to be launched by the Examinations Department before the end of the month.

The Department for Registration of Persons (DRP) will assist the Examinations Department in carrying out the program.

Accordingly, the Examinations Department has already directed through a circular to district and zonal education offices, mentioning about the program and the education officials will have to create the awareness among their respective area school principals on the program.

Commenting on the new program, Commissioner General of Examinations, Anura Edirisinghe told the Sunday Observer that such a program will help to issue NICs to students, especially in rural and remote schools, since many of them face difficulties every year when applying for NICs from the Department Head Office in Colombo.

However, he said that unlike earlier, there is a remarkable improvement in obtaining NICs by schoolchildren and even at present over 90 per cent have obtained their NICs before the GCE (O/L) Examination.