Cabinet subcommittee ends talks with teacher unions, expects to make new proposals next week
View(s):A four member Cabinet subcommittee has concluded talks with teacher trade unions on the salary issue and will make its proposals to the Cabinet next week.
The trade union proposals and the Government’s position will be taken into consideration in preparing the fresh proposals, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera told Education Times. The other ministers in the committee are Udaya Gammanpila, Prasanna Ranatunga and Wimal Weerawansa.
Minister Amaraweera conceded that there should be an increase in salaries, butsalary anomalies should not be created in other sectors, during this process.
The four member sub-committee was due to meet with Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa on Friday evening to discuss about the financial status of the Government in preparing the fresh proposals.
Meanwhile, Teachers Services Union General Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe said they were awaiting details of the proposals.
He said, however, they will continue to boycott online teaching and refrain from taking part in practical exams for GCE O/L aesthetic studies, and they will also avoid taking part in exam paper marking conducted by the Examinations Department.
He said only if a favourable response is received they will end their boycott which has lasted for more than 40 days.
The moves came as the Government was making efforts to carryout education activities, by broadcasting or telecasting educational programmes on radio and TV channels.