Delay in appointing principals in national schools: CTU

The Public Service Commission (PSC) has decided to re-gazette 302 principal vacancies in national schools on the grounds that the Ministry of Education (MoE) had not carried out the interviews properly.

The Ceylon Teachers' Union (CTU) said that the appointments that were ready to be distributed this month had been withheld because the PSC is of the view that there has been no proper interviews and marking system by the MoE.

The vacancies were gazetted in the national papers on July 20, 2018 and interviews were conducted thereafter.

General Secretary, Joseph Stalin said that, of the 353 national schools in the country, 202 schools are functioning with performing principals, who have been appointed until such time permanent appointments are made. The number includes leading schools such as Royal College, D S Senanayake College, Ananda College and Nalanda College.

In December 2012 the MoE gazetted vacancies for the post of principals in national schools, and 105 selected candidates were denied appointments. In April 2015 vacancies were gazetted for 106 principal positions but appointments were not granted.

Stalin said that there is a conspiracy to allow performing principals to run the schools, some of them serving up to 10 years. "This action has deprived 94 SLEAS Class I officers of their rightful promotions ," he said. The CTU is demanding that the principal appointments to national schools be expedited. - CC