Teachers’ union protests moves to absorb education personnel
View(s):The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) is threatening to go on strike on July 4 in protest of the Government’s move to absorb, who they claim are, unqualified persons into the education sector. Officers of the Education Ministry (MoE), Examinations Department, Provincial Education Departments and Zonal Education Departments will participate in the strike.
CTU General Secretary, Joseph Stalin said they were against the Government’s plan to give appointments and promotions to 1,200 persons without following due protocol under the Public Service Commission (PSC). Around 800 members in the Sri Lanka Principal Service, and 400 in the Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service (SLEAS) and Sri Lanka Teacher Service have been selected for promotion.
The PSC Act requires that to qualify for promotions, candidates have to sit for examinations held by the PSC. However, a special Cabinet paper has been forwarded to the Cabinet for approval under the clause that the candidates have faced political victimisation.
The CTU said that they had written to the MoE two weeks ago protesting the move. “If no action is taken, we will go on a major strike on July 4,” he said. (CC)