Schools to Reopen Tomorrow: New Teaching Schedule and Timetables for Muslim Schools Announced

COLOMBO (News1st): The first school term for all grades, except Grade One and Grade Six, will begin tomorrow. 

The Ministry of Education says that several programs, including school cleaning activities, are underway today as well.

Under the new education reforms, the first school term for Grade One and Grade Six students will not begin tomorrow.

The first term for Grade Six Students will commence on the 21st of January. 

However, only the dentification and enrollment of students for Grade One will take place tomorrow.

The first term for Grade One will officially begin on the 29th of January. 

Meanwhile, a new circular has been issued regarding the workload of school academic staff. According to the guidelines, a total of 35 periods per week must be covered by a teacher.

Teachers must engage in teaching for at least 28 periods per week, excluding official duty exemptions.

Supervising Teachers must teach at least 14 periods per week.

Assistant Principals must teach 10 periods per week.

According to Ministry, Deputy Principals must also cover eight periods of teaching, per week.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has also introduced amendments to the timetable of Muslim schools.

Accordingly, Muslim Schools will function as usual from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM on Mondays. 

All Muslim School will end at 2:15 PM from Tuesday till Thursday, with time allocated from 12:30 PM to 12.45 PM for religious observances and prayers.

On Fridays, Muslim Schools will close at 11:15 AM to allow students and staff to attend mosques for religious services and prayers.

Accordingly, Muslim Schools will conduct only four periods on Fridays.