The Hon. Bimal Rathnayake

¶ 01 Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, I table the answer.

¶ 02 - Answer tabled.

¶ 03 (a) (i) Based on criteria to cover every Divisional Secretary’s Division, 836 schools were selected for development under this programme. Of these, 23 schools have, to date, been processed by issuing Standing Orders to be declared as National Schools. Lists are in Annex 01 and Annex 02 (tabled).

¶ 04 (ii) Allocations for name boards and main entrance gates and related expenditures for 2021–2022 are shown province-wise in Annex 03 (tabled). School-wise disaggregated expenditure will be provided when available.

¶ 05 (iii) In 2021–2022, allocations were channelled via Provincial Councils by the Line Ministry for certain tasks at the selected 836 schools. Except for the 396 schools already approved as National Schools, the remaining schools will continue under Provincial Councils as per existing arrangements.

¶ 06 (iv) The total number of National Schools established to date is 396.

¶ 07 (v) The list of the 396 National Schools is in Annex 04 (tabled).

¶ 08 (vi) Except for the 396 approved National Schools, other selected schools will not be brought under the Line Ministry. However, Provincial Councils will develop their physical resources, and the Line Ministry is planning a programme to support development of those schools as well.

¶ 09 (b) Not applicable.