GRADUATES COMPLAIN TO HRC ABOUT UNFAIR TREATMENT BY NWPC

The graduates, who scored the highest marks at the examination held by the North Western Province Council (NWPC) for the recruitment of teachers complained they were marginalized when appointments were made yesterday. They complained to the Anuradhapura Human Rights Commission Regional Coordinator Shiromi Priyanga on this matter.

More than 100 graduates called over at the HRC. A representative of the Unemployed Graduates Union Gemunu Chinthaka Jayasinghe said undue preference had been given to the Puttalam District jeopardizing the rights of graduates from Kurunegala District who had scored the highest marks at the examination. He pointed out that the Provincial Ministry of Education had violated the rules and regulations that were set out in the relevant gazette notification. Mr. Jayasinghe said, the Minister of Education (NWP) Sandyakumara Rajapakse representing the Puttalam District, had given undue preference to the graduates from his district to strengthen his vote base.

The Unemployed Graduates’ Union accused the Governor and the officials of the Provincial Public Service Commission of their involvement in this injustice. They said they would file a petition in the Supreme Court as well. However Minister Rajapakse, who denied the allegations, said that the schools in the Puttlam District experienced a severe shortage of teachers and that was why he appointed a larger number of graduates from that district.

He said the criteria for recruitment was the highest marks received in the Divisional Secretariat.