260 Political appointees as National schools' Principals: CTU

The Ceylon Teachers Union ( CTU) charged this week that the Ministry of Education (MoE) is attempting to fill 260 Principal vacancies in National schools, with political appointees.

CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said that, despite the Public Service Commission approving the intake of Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service (SLEAS) officers in the General Cadre, to fill the vacancies, the MoE has failed to publish a gazette notification calling for applications. Instead, it has submitted a Cabinet paper seeking approval to allow SLEAS officers belonging to the Special Cadre to apply for the vacant positions. It is learned that the vacant positions for Principals are now being held by SLEAS officers from the Special Cadre. Mr Stalin claimed these are teachers recruited subject-wise, and do not qualify to serve in the administrative service.

The SLEAS Minute requires that only officers in the General Cadre qualify to apply for Principals' positions. As Performing Principals in these schools are from the Special Cadre, once applications are called and appointments made, they have to forego their positions.

Mr Stalin said the MoE, by a Cabinet paper, is trying to deprive the General Cadre officers of their rights. "It is a ruse to keep the Performing Principals in office," he said. "We condemn this action and ask the Government to immediately gazette the vacancies and fill them with SLEAS officers belonging to the General Cadre," he added.