Teacher Transfer System not working well: CTSU

Ceylon’s Teachers’ Services Unions Gen. Sec. Mahinda Jayasinghe says the new transfer system for teachers in the State sector is not working properly.

The system was introduced by Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam to transfer teachers serving in a school for 6-10 years.

Mr Jayasinghe said that, while his Union supported the transfer system, it has not been done in an impartial manner, with political interference in the system.

For example, in the Kekirawa National School there are two teachers serving there for 23 years, and despite the Teacher Transfer Board recommending they be transfered, it has been put on hold by the Ministry of Education (MoE) due to political influence.

He said there were such similar instances in other schools.

He added that there is an appeal process which can be completed within a month and the teacher can stay on in the school till the process is com- plete but, in some instances, the teachers have been transferred with immediate effect, with no time for appeal.

“There was also an amendment to the Teacher Transfer policy that 2 months’ notice must be given to teachers being transferred, but this too has not happened,” he said.

He added that 3,000 transers have been done to date, and around 500 teachers have been treated unfairly.

He added that some transferred teachers had to travel 70-80 kms to get to their school.

“We have informed the MoE and, if these faults are not corrected, we will have to resort to legal action, which could jeopardize the entire transfer system,” he warned.