PSPE opposes MoE attempt to appoint politically victimized
View(s):The Professional Solidarity for Protecting Education (PSPE) said last week that the Ministry of Education (MoE) is once again attempting to grant appointments to politically victimized persons in the Education sector.
The PSPE, a collective union in the Education sector, said the MoE has forwarded 217 names to the Public Service Commission (PSC), requesting they be given appointments for having been politically victimized.
The appointments, if given, the PSPE claims, will violate the Teacher Service Minute, which requires that persons appointed will have to have specified qualifications and have to pass competitive exams set out by the Examinations Department of the MoE.
Further, the PSPE said the request goes against the MoE assurance last year, that no appointments will be given on the basis of political victimisation.
In mid 2018, the Education unions filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court (No. SCFR164/16) against the MoE, for attempting to give appointments to 1,014 unqualified persons, on the basis that they had been politically victimized.
The case was eventually withdrawn, with the MoE abandoning its plan, and assuring the unions concerned that no appointments would be made under that category.
PSC Education Service Committee, Secretary, W.R. Wimalaweera said his department had received a copy of a Cabinet decision to grant appointments to politically victimized persons, but said that the list of names had not been yet received.
The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU), a member of the PSPE, said that, in a discussion they had with the PSC last week, it was agreed that a decision would be made after consulting the Attorney General.
- CC