News
Teachers and non-academic staff want own children in their schools
View(s):Teachers say they will go on strike if authorities do not allow their own children and those of non-academic staff to be admitted to schools at which they teach.
A teacher by profession and convener of the teacher union, Indika Abeysinghe said that the policy was withdrawn when the new government came to power, to reform schools and limit student intake, according to the Education and Higher Education Minister, and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya.
He said academics and non-academic staff under the Ministry of Education who came through transfers had the privilege of enrolling their children in the same school after three years of service.
Protest in front of the Presidential Secretariat. Pic by Indika Handuwala
Mr Abeysinghe said: “Since the beginning of this year, we have held 14 discussions with Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Deputy Minister Dr. Madhura Senevirathna, and Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa, but did not receive a favourable response.”
The TPNF and the teacher union began the protest on August 11 and 18 supported by eight other organisations, including the National Movement of Principals, Lanka Independent Teachers’ Service Association, Peoples’ Teachers’ Association, Professional Teachers’ Organisation, Government Teachers’ Association, National Democratic Teachers’ Association, Public Teachers Professional Association and Sri Lanka National Teachers’ Association.
Convener of TNPF, Indika Paranawithana said that 200 to 300 joined the protest, claiming that this was their only benefit, demanding fairness by allowing their children to attend the schools at which they work.
They demand that children of academic and non-academic staff in schools be admitted to their parents’ schools or a sibling school for grades 1, 6, and 11. They often work after official hours without extra pay and there are no facilities for their children. Only 250 children of academic and non-academic staff need the facility each year, averaging around five children per school.
Mr. Paranawithana said the Director General of Public Relations B. Gamage, President’s Additional Secretary K. N. M. Kumarasinghe, and President’s Senior Additional Secretary Roshan Gamage verbally promised a positive response, stating that the request will be submitted to the Cabinet.
Unions are also calling on the government to make use of an existing circular on admissions of students from grades 2 to 11, which gives the discretion on admissions to the Secretary of the Education Ministry.
Susil Premajayantha, former education minister, said that the existing circular had been followed during his tenure and requests were accommodated.
Speaking to the Sunday Times, Additional Secretary Roshan Gamage confirmed that a new Cabinet paper will be submitted with revised, general criteria that will benefit teachers, adding that a response is expected during the next Cabinet meeting.
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!