Ongoing crisis with PCs will hurt Education system: AVK

Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has warned that an ongoing crisis with the Provincial Councils ( PCs) where the Councils are refusing to absorb the Deputy Principals recruited by the Central Government, and the Councils to stop recruiting graduate teachers for subjects they are not qualified in, will hurt the Education system.

Minister Kariyawasam said that, despite efforts by the Central Government, as well as attempts to get the President to resolve the issue has, to date, not succeeded, and if the trend continues standards could decline.

" It is the Prov i n c i a l Educational officials, the Chief Ministers, the Public Service Commission and the Provincial Public Service Commission that should be held responsibility for this crisis."

The moves by the Education Ministry came as it was revealed that, graduates recruited as teachers were made to teach subjects in which they are not qualified, resulting in a drop in standards.

He said a gazette notification too was issued in this regard, but the practice has not ceased.

Minister Kariyawasam said there were some 4,000 persons selected as Deputy Principals, but the PCs were refusing to absorb them, while Teacher Assistants were being used as Acting Deputy Principals.

"Education, as well as the Administration too, has been affected," he said.

He said the Provincial Education Ministers should be held responsible for the developments which has led to a deterioration in the Provincial Education system.