World Bank funds for Northern schools

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

The Northern Province will receive Rs. 300 million from the World Bank to support the on going projects in schools. “The Province has already received Rs. 33 million and this is distributed among over 1000 schools within the province to conduct the specially designed quality improvement program under the directives of the Principals,” the Governor said. Accordingly the World Bank will issue money in different phases.

Under the World Bank funds, major works such as repairing and reconstructing damaged schools, purchasing computers, constructing labs and setting up of a training centre for teachers in Vavuniya South will commence shortly, Provincial Council officials said.

In addition, 30 Isuru schools are to be set up in the Northern Province and for five of them, estimates have already been submitted with four more to be made within a week. As the Governor said, the balance 21 schools should be immediately identified and the team will commence work in Vavuniya from March 18.

Two hundred schools have been identified to set up computer labs in the initial stage. Around 484 schools need computers.

Free season tickets have been approved by the Cabinet for teachers to travel from Vavuniya and Jaffna to their schools in Kilinochchi, Thunukkai, Madhu and Mulankavil.