Education Ministry in quandary as teachers withdraw from online teaching

The Education Ministry is in a quandary over a decision by Education sector trade unions to pullout from online education programmes with effect from today (12) in protest over the arrest of trade union members and dispatching them off for quarantine.

More than 30 Education sector trade unions issued notice yesterday that they were refraining from taking part in online classes demanding the release of those sent on quarantine.

Mahinda Jayasinghe of Ceylon Teachers Services Union said that the persons arrested during the protests had been sent for quarantine without being tested positive for COVID19 or without associating those infected with the virus and therefore was against the quarantine regulations.

Mr Jayasinghe called for the immediate release of who were sent on quarantine in contrary to the regulations.

Several more trade unionists have voiced concern over the decision by the police.

The issue was aggravated yesterday after state Minister Dilum Amungama remarked that one teacher was sufficient to carryout online education for students islandwide.

Vice President of the Ceylon Teachers Union Rasika Hadapangoda reacting said that the minister was not aware of the number of students in the country and his remarks were a disrespect to teachers.

General Secretary of the CTU Joseph Stalin who was among those arrested and sent for quarantine to an Air Force facility in Mullaitivu on Sunday took part in a protest against what they called an illegal order.

Protest inside quarantine centre

The union members and two monks who are under quarantine shared videos and pictures of the protest inside the quarantine centre.

The Education Ministry refrained from any comment about the decision of teachers and principals to pullout from the online education system from today.

However, Education Ministry sources said they expect a breakdown in the online education system as some of the teachers will keep out from the system.

Meanwhile, spokesman for the Archbishop's House said that the Catholic private schools would not hold online classes today and join the teachers' protest.

UPDATE: Trade Unions have warned that more drastic steps will be taken in addition to withdrawing from online teaching.

The Inter University Students Federation today held a protest at Lipton circus demanding the release of the trade union activist arrested.

Politicians, both from the government and the opposition expressed their views on the arrest and the protest campaigns.

State Minister Nimal Lanza said that the protest campaign was also illegal while the manner the protestors were taken away was also illegal.

Education Minister Prof G.L. Peiris said that only a section of the teachers had withdrawn from providing online classes and that the eventual solution will be to resume schools soon as possible.

He said that a mass vaccination programme was currently underway for teachers with the objective of starting some of the classes from next month.

Related article: https://www.timesonline.lk/latest-news/In-Pictures-Protesters-dragged-pushed-and-carried-off/18-1134091