Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

Principals and teachers prepare fish in Education Minister’s kitchen claims Dayasiri

Former MP steps into NCP election fray on UFP ticket

- BY SANJIWANI ARIYARATNE

Former parliament­arian and UPFA candidate contesting the North Western Provincial Council elections, Dayasiri Jayasekara said some principals and teachers worked in the kitchen of the Education Minister’s house and cut fish [prepare] for dinner but that he would not form teacher forums and coerce teachers and principals to work in his kitchen.

Speaking at a meeting of teachers and principals at Daladagama in Maho he said the forums resulted in the degradatio­n of the teaching profession. “I will not depend on teacher forums and expect their members to become my servants. I have often raised in parliament issues affecting teachers and education in the North Western Province. Teachers’ trade unions must function as profession­al organisati­ons and uphold the dignity of teachers and the teaching profession without resorting to personal agendas. The standard of education in the NCP which had been the second in the island is now occupying the eighth place. Teachers proposed to collect Rs. 500 from each one towards the election campaign. I was surprised and asked why they should do so. Teachers said it was the practice. I told them not to collect a single

Teachers proposed to collect Rs. 500 from each one towards the election campaign; school principals to contribute Rs.5000

cent. I also hear that school principals contribute Rs.5000. This is a bad practice that encourages principals to seek gratificat­ions in school admissions. Every institutio­n in the province has declined in educationa­l and administra­tive standards. I will need at least three months to streamline affairs of the institutio­ns that fall under the purview of the NCP,” he said

He also said that the NCP could be developed in five years if an effective plan was implemente­d.

 ??  ?? Dayasiri Jayasekera at Daladagama in Maho, “I will not depend on teacher forums and expect their members to become my servants.”
Dayasiri Jayasekera at Daladagama in Maho, “I will not depend on teacher forums and expect their members to become my servants.”

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