3,859 Teachers appointed Principals sans placements charges CTSU

Nearly 3,859 teachers who have been given appointments to the post of principals are yet to receive placements, and the Ceylon Teachers Services Union (CTSU) suspects this may be due to a recommendation by a 4-member committee to grant these placements to about 4,600 political victims of the past.

According to the CTSU, this 4-member committee was appointed to investigate on political victims of the previous regime. Speaking to Education Times, CTSU General Secretary, Mahinda Jayasinghe said the 4 members were political appointments as well.

“The committee recommended the Education Ministry grant administrative appointments, salary increments and principal appointments to these 4,600 individuals who were identified as political victims,” he said.

The CTSU bases its suspicion on the fact that, the salary increments are already being granted. "A court case has also been filed regarding this matter, when these recommendations were withdrawn," Mr. Jayasinghe said. However, relief continues to be granted in the form of salary increments and the CTSU has received letters regarding this.

The Education Ministry however, refuted these allegations and claimed it was doing everything in its power to ensure those eligible to be principals are granted the placements.

According to a ministry official, a special committee was appointed, which received nearly 12,000 complaints of political victimisation. Of these only 4,600 complaints were valid.

“These complaints showed some teachers and principals are subject to injustice because of their political opinions. The Ministry had, however, allowed them to sit the Principal Service exam,” the official said.

He added that, the issue of acting Principals was not prevalent in National schools; rather they were present in provincial schools. According to the officer, these acting Principals were also afforded an opportunity to sit the exam. However, some of them failed.

According to Mr Jayasinghe, 3,859 teachers had got through the exam held on November 11, 2015, and on May 9, 2016, they were given appointments. Subsequently, they were sent on a training programme from May 10 to June 17.

“A large sum of money was spent on this programme (nearly Rs 300,000). After this exam on June 25, another exam was conducted by the National Institute of Education (NIE). However, it’s been more than a month since these exams and training, but no placements given yet,” Mr Jayasinghe said.

“Even though these people have been appointed as Principals, they are still in the same schools. Furthermore, there are Deputy Principals assigned as acting Principals who come under them, and it is not right,” he said.

The Education Ministry has told the CTSU that a Cabinet paper has been forwarded, which is being reviewed by a Cabinet subcommittee. However, the Union claims the Ministry needs to provide more information to the Subcommittee, which they haven’t done.

“On June 29, we organised a protest in front of the Education Ministry, after which, we had a discussion with ministry officials. They told us a Cabinet paper was forwarded and after two weeks the placements will be made. A month has passed now, but they tell us the Cabinet paper is still before the Subcommittee,” Mr Jayasinghe said.