With the objective of improving the educational standards of students in the Northern Province who are sitting for the General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level examination, a special review discussion on the ongoing online learning programme, implemented with the patronage of Jaffna Hindu College, was held today – on Tuesday, 30 December 2025 evening, at the Governor’s Secretariat.
This programme is being implemented under the direct supervision of the Governor of the Northern Province, Hon. N. Vethanayahan, with technical and resource support from Jaffna Hindu College.
In his opening address, the Governor stated that this initiative, which was initially launched through the voluntary efforts of the Principal of Jaffna Hindu College, Mr. R. Senthilmaran, for a few schools in the Island Education Zone, was later expanded to cover the entire zone and is now being implemented across the whole Northern Province. At the commencement of the programme, more than a thousand students from 151 schools benefited from it. However, following the recent “Ditwah” disaster situation, a decline in student participation was observed. Although there has been some improvement recently, he stressed that it is essential to regain the initial participation levels.
During the discussion, challenges faced in implementing the programme across the various education zones were examined in detail. In particular, the lack of internet facilities and technical issues were highlighted as major obstacles and brought to the attention of the Governor.
Responding to these concerns, the Hon. Governor stated that once details of schools without internet facilities are received, steps will be taken to bring the matter to the attention of the Presidential Secretariat and obtain solutions. He also commended certain school principals who are conducting additional classes for their students through their own initiatives and requested that details of such schools and principals be submitted to him as a report. He further urged other education zones to intensify their efforts, following the example of the Island Education Zone, which is engaging in this programme with full commitment.
Speaking at the meeting, the Principal of Jaffna Hindu College presented statistical data relating to the programme and also explained the special relief activities carried out by the college community.
Relief packs worth Rs. 3,500 each were distributed to 221 students affected by the disaster who participated in these classes.
Multimedia projectors were donated by Jaffna Hindu College to three schools that conducted these learning activities using laptops.
The college authorities also assured that, if students in areas with no internet access can be brought together at a central school, they are prepared to facilitate satellite-based internet connectivity for that school.
In addition to the subjects currently being taught, consent was also given to introduce and teach several more subjects.
With the aim of preventing student dropouts, the Governor issued an instruction that, in cases where students do not attend school regularly, a mechanism should be implemented immediately whereby school principals or zonal education offices inform the relevant Divisional Secretariats or police stations.
In recognition of the relief activities carried out in the interest of students even during the disaster period, the Governor presented a special certificate of appreciation to the Principal of Jaffna Hindu College.
The discussion was attended by the Secretary and Assistant Secretary to the Governor of the Northern Province, the Principal of Jaffna Hindu College, and many others, including Deputy Directors of Education and Assistant Directors of Education representing all 13 education zones of the Northern Province.
