Education Minister to consult Cabinet over school uniforms

• Decision on whether to continue with voucher system to be decided today 
  
   

Education Minister Dullas Alahapperuma yesterday said steps would be taken to provide school uniforms to all students by the beginning of the new term next year, following Cabinet consultation.

Issuing a media statement, Alahapperuma said he would take the responsibility to provide school uniforms to students as the Education Minister.

“It is regrettable that steps have not been taken to provide school uniforms for 2020 despite the 2019 school term coming to an end in three days,” he said in a statement.

Alahapperuma stated complaints had been lodged with the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) that the Government had incurred a higher cost due to the decision taken by the previous Government to provide vouchers instead of school uniforms. He pointed out that due to the complaints, a decision had not been taken on whether to provide school uniforms or vouchers.  Alahapperuma noted despite writing to the previous Cabinet about issuing vouchers for uniforms, little had been done. However, with the new Cabinet in place, efforts would be made to procure uniforms at the same price as last year.

Accordingly, the new Cabinet of Ministers will be informed on the matter today and measures will be taken to provide the uniforms at the beginning of the new school term next year, said Alahapperuma.