Education Ministry yesterday stated in a press communique that it has not issued any instructions or approved any notices that enforced or necessitated schoolchildren to change or purchase new school bags.
The ministry did not issue any instructions preventing the children from using their standard school bags, the communique stated.
Education Minister Akila Kariyawasam instructed acting Education Ministry Secretary Nihal Ranasinghe yesterday to investigate instances where the parents of some schools had been inconvenienced by some groups and individuals who had reportedly tried to enforce some unapproved regulations at schools under the cover of strengthening security.
The Minister called on the Education Ministry Secretary Ranasinghe to look into a number of complaints received by the Ministry that some groups had collected money from parents and students at schools saying that it was for buying security equipment for the schools.
The Ministry communiqué noted that the Education Ministry at no time issued any instructions preventing schoolchildren from carrying their usual school bags or backpacks to schools as a means to strengthen security. The minister stated that the three armed forces, the police, Civil Defence brigades, the principals, the parents and school teachers have done a praiseworthy job in ensuring the safety of children at schools.
“It was due to actions of a few that unnecessary problems have ensued,” the communique stated.