Ed. Ministry pressurising teachers to conduct online classes daily: CTU
The Education Ministry is pressurising teachers to conduct online classes for students daily while schools are closed, the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) said last week.
CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said provincial education directors, zonal directors and school principals have sent out directives to teachers to conduct classes from 7.30 am to 1.30 pm on school days.
In addition, some schools are forcing teachers to conduct evening Zoom classes from 5.00 pm to 9.00 pm for students.
This in spite of recent surveys showing that online teaching has not been effective in the past 15 months, when schools were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
Mr Stalin said conducting and listening to classes throughout the day can be exhausting for both teachers and students.
Moreover, he said, teachers and students end up paying a lot of money for mobile data charges
“The teachers are spending a lot of money on their telephone and internet connection bills. The Ministry does not supplement their bills or grant any allowances for their monthly phone and internet connection bills that have increased due to excessive use of data” Mr Stalin said.
“It is unfair to burden teachers with additional expenses at a time they are struggling to make ends meet. The requests for a revision on their salary anomalies has also not been considered yet,” he said.
-CC