5,000 A/L QUALIFIED YOUTH TO JOIN TEACHING PROFESSION

The government has proposed to facilitate 5,000 Advanced level qualified youths to join the teaching service after completing degrees at private degree awarding institutions with financial assistance by the government, it is learnt.

A cabinet paper has been submitted in this regard seeking to facilitate aspiring youths to join the teaching service after pursuing their graduate studies at private degree awarding institutions accredited by the Higher Education Ministry.

This is to address the dearth of teachers at rural schools in particular for subjects such as English, Mathematics, Science and Information Technology. The government will provide them with loans amounting to Rs.275,000 through the banking system - Rs.200,000 for the course fee and another Rs.75,000.

The youths will be selected depending on their Z-scores at the G.C.E. Advanced Examination. Also, they have to express their willingness to work in the Divisional Secretariat Areas where vacancies exist. They will be bonded to work in the areas of choice for ten years.

Initially, only 5,000 will be recruited. It will be increased later. In the paper, it is said this will be done to ensure equal access to quality education for all. In the overall context, the national schools run short of 6,980 teachers and provincial schools 56,477. Yet, in some national schools, there is an excess of 1,234 teachers.