Teachers discuss July 26 strike

The President of the Ceylon Teachers’ Union Priyantha Fernando said a teacher who had been under interdiction for eight months for alleged rape of a schoolgirl, and 23 others who did not possess a pass at the GCE Ordinary Level examination were among the 113 teachers in the North Central Province who were promoted to the Education Administrative Service (SLEAS).

He was addressing an awareness meeting among the teacher trade union representatives on the proposed strike of teachers, school Principals and the education administrative service officers, all over the country on July 26.

“16 teachers facing charges of fraud and other disciplinary action, and four others facing charges of child abuse were among those selected for promotion to the Education Administrative Service,” he said.

He said the transfer of 82 teachers after a service of more than 15 years at one school been considered as political victimization and promoted to the administrative service.

He said several of such teachers had served for about 20 years at a school. He questioned as to how the transfer after a service of 20 years at one school could be an entitlement to promotion.

He said all trade unions in the education sector would join the strike all over the country on July 26 to protest against the irregularities in the promotion.