Vadivel Suresh calls on Govt. to pay attention to estate sector education

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentarian Vadivel Suresh has called the Government to give special attention to students in the estate sector as the current economic crisis has severely curtailed their opportunities.

Mr. Suresh said students were undergoing severe hardships and the economic burdens could lead to an estimated 30 percent drop in school attendance.

He also said on average a student who spent Rs. 7,000 for school equipment and books now had to pay around Rs. 15,000 and therefore families in the estate sector had been severely affected.

“A family with three children would have to find more than Rs. 45,000 additionally to meet their childrens’ requirements to attend school,” he said. Mr. Suresh said students in some areas were walking up to 10 km one way to reach their schools and were studying under difficult circumstances, so therefore the Government should pay special attention to them.

He called on the Government to consider concessions for students in the estate sector and failure to do so would have an impact on the region’s education sector.