News
Unions on the streets, schools on their feet
Despite the stalemate in talks between trade unions of teachers and principals and the Government on the salary anomalies, some schools are preparing to reopen next week.
The Education Ministry said schools will reopen as planned in stages. Primary schools that have grade 1 to 5 classes, and have fewer than 200 students, will reopen first followed by schools that have fewer than 200 students.
About 3,800 schools will reopen. There are about 5,000 schools that have fewer than 200 students.
Under phase 3, schools for Ordinary Level and Advanced Level students will start and the rest will follow.
Education Ministry Additional Secretary L.M.D. Dharmasena said schools were being readied by provincial governors, and education and zonal directors.
He said allocations had been made to ensure that health guidelines were followed on facilities for hand-washing and distanced seating in classrooms.
A paediatrician will be assigned to all schools in the medical officer of health area.
Also, rooms to attend to sick children will be revamped.
Meanwhile, unions representing teachers and principals said they were determined to boycott the reopening on Thursday.
Principal Mohan Weerasinghe said that principals were not involved in preparations.
“There are no preparations for the [school] reopening,’’ he said.
Ceylon Teachers Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin said unless the Government agreed to give them the recommended salary in full, teachers woulf not report to work.
On October 12, a discussion was held at the Temple Trees with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and representatives of trade unions on their demands to restructure salary anomalies.
At the end of the meeting, the Government offered to grant the agreed salary increment in three instalments.
The first adjustment would be given next year in the 2022 budget and the second and third stages in 2023.
It has been estimated that Rs 67.8 billion is needed for the salary increments. The Government says it is not possible to grant the increments in full because of the financial crisis it is faced with. But unions insist funds are available.
Also, assurances were given to make the teacher/principal service a “closed service”, next month — meaning that they will be a separate cadre distinct from the rest of the public service.
Meanwhile, the vaccination programme for schoolchildren began last Friday for those between 15 and 19 years.
Already, children over 12 years with congenital problems have been vaccinated islandwide.
The University Grants Commission has also arranged for vaccinations at universities.
It has been noted that most youths are reluctant. A survey has shown that only 55 percent of youths between 20 and 30 years have been inoculated so far.