EDUCATION SECTOR TO DISRUPT DUE TO A TOKEN STRIKE

Educational activities are likely to be disrupted due to an islandwide token strike being planned by Education Administrative service officers, school principals and teachers next Thursday urging the government to rescind 1,014 appointments as relief for political victimization . Speaking to Daily Mirror, Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin said despite the strong trade union protests,

We are compelled to take stern trade union action due to the government’s move to destroy the entire education sector with unqualified individuals. The education system of the country will be disrupted on Thursday due to the authorities’ short sighted arbitrary move

1,014 individuals were promoted to Sri Lanka Education Service.

Principals and teachers showed their displeasure by reporting sick leave on July 4th on the date the appointments were granted.

Mr. Stalin said that unions held discussions with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Law and Order Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara on July 3rd in the parliamentary complex, and met the Public Service Commission officials on July 10th where they gave two weeks to withdraw their decision. He said that his union had not received any response from the officials , and therefore would proceed with the planned trade union action.

Seventeen unions in the education sector had given their consent to the trade union action including the Education Administrative service officers.

“We are compelled to take stern trade union action due to the government’s move to destroy the entire education sector with unqualified individuals. The education system of the country will be disrupted on Thursday due to the authorities’ short sighted arbitrary move,” he added.

He said that among the appointed individuals to the sector under the political victimization, 27 individuals had failed the G.C.E Ordinary Level Mathematics subject while another 138 were found guilty on disciplinary grounds.