Government urges teachers and principals to accept new proposals and go back to school
View(s):The Government has appealed to teachers and principals to accept the recent Cabinet proposals. They have also asked teachers and principals to begin online teaching and participate in examination duties.
“The Government at present is spending Rs. 119 billion for the payment of salaries for education sector staff on a monthly basis. The Government will allocate an extra Rs. 32 billion for salary payments of teachers and principals. At present 85 per cent of the Government’s income is allocated for Government sector salaries and pensions,” members of the Cabinet subcommittee to eliminate the salary anomalies of teachers and principals said.
Subcommittee member Minister Wimal Weerawansa requested teachers and principals to accept the solution provided by the Government and to consider the plight of students during this pandemic time.
“This decision was a fair solution provided to the 24 year old salary anomaly issue as assured by President’s policy statement. The amount offered is what the Government can afford, and it will not affect other Government sector employees,” he said.
This week, the Cabinet approved implementing salary revisions recommended by the subcommittee to eliminate the salary anomalies of teachers and principals, in stages through a 2022 budget proposal.
The Cabinet also agreed to issue a gazette notification before November 20, 2021 declaring teacher service, teacher advisory service and principal services as closed services.
Granting a special allowance of Rs. 5000 for teachers and principals who are on duty during the months of September and October 2021 was also agreed on by the Cabinet.
The subcommittee said salaries of Principal Service III-I will be increased by 19.54 per cent, Principal Service-II will be increased by 21.59 per cent, Principal Service I by 25.95 per cent, Teacher Service III-I by 13.52 per cent and Teacher Service III-IC will be increased by 16 per cent.
Subcommittee member Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said the Government is unable to pay an extra Rs. 71 billion for teacher principal salaries based on the Subodhini report, which the unions are demanding.
Teacher unions said they rejected the Cabinet proposal, and accused the Government of failing to address the salary anomalies issue.
Ceylon Teacher Services Union General Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe said teachers and principals will continue to boycott online teaching, examination duties and participating in provincial level online meetings.
Government school teachers have stayed away from online teaching for almost two months.
“This salary revision proposed by the subcommittee is based on a 2018 report by the Education Ministry on salary anomalies. We want the 2018 year report made a part of the Subodhini Committee report that provides a wide solution to the salary anomalies. We accept paying in stages but it should be clearly based on the Subodhini report,” said Mr Jayasinghe.
“We will continue our trade union action until salary increments are given as suggested in the Subodhini report. Future trade union action will be decided at meetings to be held this week,” he said.
He also said the unions have written to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, expressing their concerns.
Teacher and principal unions also took part in an online rally this week expressing displeasure over the Cabinet proposal.
(NF)