Teachers reject Cabinet proposal, continue to stay away from online teaching

Teacher unions rejected the Cabinet proposal on their salary issue, charging that the government has failed to address the salary anomalies.

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 the 52nd consecutive day.

“Despite highlighting the importance of implementing salary increments suggested in the Subodhani Committee report when we met the Education Minister, this has not been done in the Cabinet proposal,” Mr. Jayasinghe said. 

The Cabinet of Ministers approved implementing salary revisions, recommended by the Cabinet Sub Committee to eliminate the salary anomalies of teachers and principals, in stages through a 2022 budget proposal.

“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 Subodhani report,” said Mr. Jayasinghe.

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 by the Cabinet.

“If they are giving a 5000 rupees allowance, we won’t reject it. But this should not be given to distract us from our demand for salary increments. We will continue our trade union action until salary increments are given as suggested in the Subodhani report. We do not want to drag our trade union action, but until our two decade issue is given a proper solution we will continue with it,” he said, adding that unions have written to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on their concerns.

He said principals and teachers are being pressurized to participate in Scholarship and Advanced Level examination duties.

“We understand the inconvenience students and parents face. But this is an issue that has dragged for 24 years. We ask teachers to stay away from exam duties. Future trade union action will be decided at meetings to be held this week,” he said.

Teacher and principal unions held an online rally expressing displeasure over the Cabinet proposal.

Member of the Sub Committee Minister Wimal Weerawansa at a press conference today (1) said he hoped teachers would resume online teaching understanding the present pandemic situation and the crisis both parents and students were facing.