The Education Ministry notes that a report assessing the impact of cyclone Ditwah on the education sector has now been prepared and is now undergoing verification before further action is taken.
Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa has told the media that verification workshops would be conducted in all Provinces in the coming days to review and confirm the data included in the report.
“We need to verify the information contained in the report. Once the verification process is completed and the report is officially released, we will take necessary action,” he has noted.
The Ministry had earlier stated that a comprehensive sector-wide study was initiated to assess the impact of Ditwahon education, identify existing gaps and future requirements, and guide policy responses based on evidence.
According to Kaluwewa, at the time that the assessment was being carried out with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund, which is leading the process together with other relevant stakeholders and that evidence-based decision-making is essential, noting that sustainable solutions could not be introduced without a credible and accepted assessment.
The decision to conduct a sector-wide evaluation was taken following Ditwah, which caused widespread damage across several parts of the country. The education sector was among the most affected, with many schools sustaining damage to buildings, classrooms and learning materials. In some areas, school premises continue to function as temporary shelters for families displaced by the disaster. The cyclone also had a direct impact on students with some children losing parents or guardians, leaving them emotionally affected and without stable support systems. Many others lost textbooks, uniforms, exercise books and essential learning materials.
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