CTU against MoE declaring 8 Provincial schools as National schools
View(s):The Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) said the Ministry of Education’s (MoE) take over of 8 Provincial schools, declaring them National schools gives the wrong message to parents that quality education can be obtained only from National schools.
CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said last week, that the MoE had announced that it has taken over Saranath Vidyalaya in Kuliyapitiya, 5 schools, namely Dimbulagala Central MV, Toppawewa MV, Divulankadawea Central MV, Bakumuna Mahesan MV and Polonnaruwa Muslim Madhya Vidyalayam in the Polonnaruwa district, Ampara Uhana MV and Gampaha Henagama MV as National schools, bringing the total number of National schools to 370.
While the MoE claims that the schools fulfilled all criteria required to be declared National schools and that, the approval of Zonal Education Directors, Provincial Education Directors and the Provincial Governors were obtained, the CTU said this is being done with the connivance of politically appointed Provincial Governors.
He said that such action, in the absence of the Provincial Councils, is illegal and goes against the 13th Amendment, where devolution of power to the Provinces has been assured. “This only takes away the PC’s powers,” he said.
Mr Stalin added that, this also goes against the government propaganda that the ‘Nearest School is the Best School’. “This will compel parents to admit their children to National schools. If this goes on, schools would have to close down soon,” he said.
- CC