EDUCATION MINISTRY’S ARBITRARY DECISION LEAVES PRINCIPALS’ PROMOTIONS AT CROSSROADS - TPTU

The Education Ministry’s move to make Sinhala, Tamil as compulsory subjects to pass as the secondary language and English as the link language at the interviews for promoting principals for class (I) and (II) had created a difficult situation for 90% of principals, Teachers and Principals Trade Union collective yesterday charged.

Union Convener Joseph Stalin said the promotion interviews to be conducted on June 2 onwards and it is unjustifiable that the Education Ministry’s arbitrary decision to enact the 2014 issued circular to apply on those School Principals who were appointed by the old Constitution. He said the ministry has mentioned in the State Administrative Circular 01/2014(IV) that it is not compulsory to pass secondary language proficiency exam and adequate to receive 100 hour training.

“The School principals promotions had been delayed for nearly two years and the ministry’s newest clause will delay it further. Those who joined the state service before July 1, 2007, and granted promotions based on limited or skills and completed 50 – years during the promotion receiving period were liberated from secondary language proficiency exam.” he said

Addressing the issue, Teachers and Principals Front Convener Mahinda Jayasinghe said the School principals promotions had been delayed for nearly two years and the ministry’s newest clause will delay it further.

“It takes a while to receive the secondary and link languages practice. Most of the principals are about to retire and will not receive the promotion on time. The ministry has excluded the officials of the class (III) who were appointed to the Administrative service from 01.07.2007 to 02.01.2012,” he said. Jayasinghe said the ministry’s arbitrary decision has caused many difficulties to the School Principals therefore without imposing a barrier to around 5,000 principals who are to be promoting the Education Ministry should come to a fair solution to all.

Meanwhile, he warned of a major trade union action if the education ministry failed to find a fair solution to the matter.

The School principals promotions had been delayed for nearly two years and the ministry’s newest clause will delay it further The ministry’s arbitrary decision has caused many difficulties to the School Principals therefore without imposing a barrier to around 5,000 principals who are to be promoting the Education Ministry should come to a fair solution to all