Asst. Teachers in protest campaign for inclusion into permanent cadre
View(s):A protest campaign inside the North Central Provincial Council (NCPC) building, by assistant teachers requesting they be absorbed into the permanent cadre of the teacher’s service, turned ugly after they were confronted by a gun toting security guard of the NCPC’s private security service. The security guard on duty had threatened to shoot at the crowd with his repeater gun, thus causing a great deal of unrest at the NCPC premises last Wednesday.
The assistant teachers were recruited in 2007 for an allowance of Rs 3,000. There are about 800 of them in Anuradhapura. They claim that they have the necessary qualifications to be absorbed into Grade 3 of the teaching service.
The demonstrating teachers led by Lanka Teachers’ Association President Priyantha Fernando, marched to the NCPC building, found its gate bolted when they got there. However, they managed to force it open. It was at this juncture that the private security guard entered the premises and threatened the protesters. However, the protesting teachers had turned on the man, when he had fled the scene.
At the time, the NCPC meeting was in progress. The protesting teachers also blocked the PC members’ cars, but later relented when Mr. Fernando appealed not to damage any property of the PC, and allowed the cars to leave. However, they refused to quit and continued with their protest squatting on the ground.
The assistant teachers said that, though they received an additional Rs 3,000 in 2012, after recruitment, their total salary of Rs 6,000 in no way matched the current high cost of living, adding that the NCPC officials were taking them for a ride.
ASP K.C. Tillekeratne intervened at this juncture and appealed to the crowd to disperse, which they refused to do at first, saying they needed a solution to their problem. Meanwhile, a discussion was held by NCPC Assistant Secretary H.M.R. Herath Banda and the Teachers’ Union President, along with some teachers’ representatives.
It was decided to officially write to the Education Ministry Secretary and obtain permission for their case to be taken in Parliament by August 14.
However, if no solution is found by that date, they would recommence their agitation to win their demands, the assistant teachers said. (CK)
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