The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya - Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the answer is as follows:

¶ 02 (a) (i) There are five (5) education zones in the Trincomalee District.

¶ 03 (ii) 1. Trincomalee Zone 2. Trincomalee North Zone 3. Muttur Zone 4. Kantale Zone 5. Kinniya Zone

¶ 04 (b) (i) Yes. (ii) Yes. (iii) There are 30 schools in the Kuchchaveli Division; 7 of them are located more than 50 km from the Trincomalee Zonal Education Office.

¶ 05 (c) There is neither a sufficient number of schools nor a student population to justify establishing a separate education zone, and no prior request has been made in this regard.

¶ 06 Currently, the number of schools under each Zonal Education Office in Trincomalee is limited, as follows: - Trincomalee North: 35 - Kantale: 44 - Kinniya: 67 - Trincomalee: 83 - Muttur: 88

¶ 07 By comparison, elsewhere there are zones with over 150 schools administered by a single Zonal Education Office (e.g., Dehiowita 213; Minuwangoda 161; Gampaha 150). Even where large geographical areas and practical access constraints exist, administration is carried out through single Zonal Education Offices. In other multi-ethnic districts/areas as well, school administration is generally organized through a single Zonal Education Office based on various determinants.

¶ 08 Under such circumstances, there is no feasibility to create a special arrangement when establishing new education zones.

¶ 09 Going forward, as part of planned reforms, we intend to review the administrative structure to ensure the best delivery of education services to children and schools. We will consider multiple criteria in that discussion. I invite the Hon. Member to submit further proposals for that review.