Dearth of Graduate teachers in Western Province

Proper placements not effected

Joseph Stalin, Secretary of Ceylon Teachers Union said there is a dearth of Graduate Teachers in many schools though the ratio is one to seventeen between the teachers and the pupils in the Western Province as proper placements have not been done with those who were recruited as Graduate Teachers by the Western Provincial Council.

Stalin further said, it is difficult to even get a transfer to the schools which have shortage of teachers as a majority of teachers have been appointed to the popular schools and school of town areas which recruited Graduate Teachers at the beginning of this year.

He further said, that there are shortage of teachers in many schools in the Zonal Education Division in Beruwala and Heenatiyana Dhammaloka Vidyalaya, Pitipana Vidyalaya, Sri Wijaya Vidyalaya, Negombo, St. Joseph College, Kolonnawa, Sedawatta Vidyalaya, St. Anthony’s College, Colombo North, De-lasalle Maha Vidyalaya.

Though the Governor has been instructed to effect proper placements no action have been taken. The pupils are badly effected by this serious lapse.

Mr. S.P. Wijebandu, the Secretary of Provincial Education says, there is no shortage of teachers in Western Province. We are recruiting teachers for the vacancies for those who have retired. In addition to this, there are shortage of teachers in few schools such as Colombo North, Beruwala and Negombo areas. We are now recruiting to fill these vacancies. Most of the shortages of teachers are observed in primary sections. Graduates are not recruited to primary sections. Trained teachers are required for this from Training Schools.

But we have to refer Graduate Art Teachers to the primary classes because central government is giving teachers out of Western Province. We recruit two hundred teachers this time and make arrangements to refer them where the vacancies exist.