He stated this yesterday making a ministerial statement  in Parliament

 

 

The Ministry of Education has been continuously providing free school uniform material for public and affiliated private schools since 1993. Annually a huge quantity of uniform material is purchased from local and foreign apparel manufacturers.  But according to surveys carried out around 25 percent of these materials ago wasted due to the uqality of the material provided, he said.

 

 

In addition to this, some practical issues such as a full time cadre to be appointed to procurement committees and staffs, providing material on time, storing, maintenance, packing, transport and allocation of heavy expenditure for all these matters  also emerged. 

 

 

According the Cabinet Committee on Economic Management after studying these facts very carefully, recommended that issuing a uniform voucher instead of materials is suitable and informed the Education Ministry to implement this step, the Minister further said.

 

 

He briefed that before the school vacations commenced, 95 percent of the voucher process was completed and the Ministry has extended the closing date of providing vouchers up to February 28.

 

 

The MInister further pointed out that only parents of students from grades 1-5 were informed to collect the vouchers for uniform material to ensure primary school children would not misplace them.