MoE can’t resolve teachers’ salary issue: Akila
View(s):Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has ruled out the possibility of the Ministry of Education (MoE) finding a solution to the teachers’ demand to resolve the salary anomalies issue.
Instead, Minister Kariyawasam said they would have to seek a redress from the Commission appointed by the President to resolve the issue.
Minister Kariyawasam told Education Times that if the MoE tried to clear the salary anomalies of teachers, there could be other disparities created with other services, creating other issues.
He said that salaries of public sector employees have been increased since 2015, under which the teachers too have benefited.
He said that, in 2015, a Grade I teacher was paid Rs 21,750 without allowances, which has now increased to Rs 44,950 without allowances, while with allowances it goes beyond Rs 60,000. Grade II salaries have gone up from 18,950 to 39,175 without allowances, while with allowances it is around Rs 50,000.
He said the allowance of Rs 750 for principals has been raised to Rs 6,500, and there has been other similar increases.
Minister Kariyawasam said he hopes to soon disclose the details of the salary increases and allowance increased for teachers in recent years.
The comments came in the wake of threats by teacher unions to resort to strike action in the next term.
Ceylon Teachers Services Union Mahinda Jayasinghe said they have placed the demands about two months back and, as they have not got a clear response so far, they would go on strike, which would last for several days.
He said they have already sent their demands to the President and the Finance Ministry as well, but have so far failed to draw a response.
-Damith Wickremasekara