Committee to oversee Teacher-transfers: AVK
View(s):A Committee has been set up by Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariawasam for the transfer of teachers within Provincial schools and from Provincial schools to National schools, as part of the Government’s transfer system that began last year.
Under this system, of the 12,000 teachers due for transfer, after serving more than 10 years in a school, 8,000 were transferred in 2017, while around 2,050 remain, as they have no schools in close proximity to be transferred to.
One example is in the Ampara District, where the distance between 2 schools is around 90 km. Hence, such transfers have become problematic due to the long distance they have to travel on a daily basis.
To handle such instances, a Committee comprising the Provincial Education Secretary and the Provincial Education Directors has been appointed to set up an exchange system enabling teachers to exchange their appointment, to a school located at a convenient distance from their homes.
Ministry officials said the balance transfers would be completed this year, with the assistance of this Committee.
This is the first time an exchange programme among teachers has been put in place. The Education Minister said that, in instances where teachers have served for 10 years, but are a year or so away from retirement, they be allowed to stay on till retirement.
Four Education Directors have been appointed to evaluate appeals from teachers with grievances about their transfers.