Fuel crisis hits O/L answer script marking as teachers threaten to pullout from duties

The G.C.E (Ordinary Level) answer script marking has run into trouble with teachers threatening to boycott paper correction as the government has failed to provide fuel to them as promised.

Teachers in several locations in the country on Sunday staged protests over the issue and are threatening to pull out from their duties.

The Ministry of Education earlier had assured the teachers that they could provide the required proof that they were involved in examination duties and collecting fuel supplies.

But on contrary, some of the teachers were turned away by the public who have been waiting in long queues for hours or days.

The President of the Ceylon Independent Teachers’ Union Chandimal Wijeratna addressing the press said that despite the government’s announcement the teachers were unable to collect fuel from the sheds.

In one of the incidents reported from Hatton, the public protested despite the Police and army on duty saying there were no objections to them collecting fuel.  Protests were also in Ambalangoda and Tangalle. 

The teachers on duty at the Ambalangoda Dharmashoka Vidyalaya said they will not take part in paper marking until they are provided fuel.

Teachers said that in some of the areas the fuel stations did not have supplies to provide them with fuel thereby causing inconvenience to the teachers.

However, in Bandaragama the police were able to provide fuel for the teachers despite protests.