Mixed messages on teaching schedules
While schools re- opened last week after being closed for 14 weeks due to the coronavirus pandemic, the disparity in time tables issued to schools under the provincial education ministries has pushed the teachers’ union to seek redress at the Human Rights Commission (HRC).
On Monday, the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) filed a petition at the HRC in Colombo and Jaffna stating that the provincial administrations have failed to follow the circular issued by the Ministry of Education.
The petition claimed that this discriminates against teachers in provincial schools and jeopardises their right to life in times of great concern for their health and safety.
CTU Vice president Theeban Arokianathan, also a teacher at Thirunelveli Muthuthambi MV Jaffna, said the ministry circular which said that teachers be allowed to come 30 minutes before classes begin, is being ignored and the school administrators are holding them till 1:30 pm.
He said that in Jaffna, teachers travel in crowded buses exposing themselves to high risk of being infected with the new coronavirus.
Also, he said since classes are only for grades 11, 13, and 5, most teachers are idling.
The ministry circular issued before re- opening of schools specifically stated that teachers be allowed to come late and go home once they are done. A teacher assigned in the roster till 3:30 pm can start work any time and report 30 minutes before classes begin.
CTU general secretary Joseph Stalin, who filed a complaint on the same issue at the HRC in Colombo simultaneously, charged that provincial administrations are disrespectful of the central ministry. “Are they above the MOE,’’ he asked.
Following the complaint, the ministry has issued an additional circular to provincial secretaries, provincial education secretaries, zonal education directors, and principal of schools on July 7, stating that not all the teachers are required to report for work at 7:30am.
Only those assigned to administrative and health work should report at 7:30 am and once their work is complete, they can go home, it stated.
Also, teachers who have to teach two subjects and have a gap between sessions can go home and return 30 minutes before class starts. A general attendance book will be used. Any teacher will be
rostered only one or two days a week until 3:30pm.
Ministry secretary M.H.M. Chitrananda said the additional circular will sort out the issue.
“All grades will begin work on July 27 and everybody has report to work then,’’ he said.
Schools reported up to 80 percent attendance. Isipathana College in Colombo has reported up to 70 percent attendance in higher grades from 11 and 13.
Teacher Prabashini Sriyaratne said that parents were seen accompanying most children to school and they came bearing face masks and food as requested. All canteens in schools are closed.
In Jaffna, most schools reported 80 percent turnout. Teacher Arokianathan said the students complied with health guidance.
Meanwhile, in semi- government schools, attendance was poor. An Advance Level student in a leading girls school in Colombo said only six students turned up.
She said most lessons had been covered online during the lockdown. “They are all going for tuition classes and preparing for the exams.’’
Advance Level exams have been put off to the first week of September.