In a recent session of Parliament, Education Minister Dr. Susil Premajayantha addressed concerns regarding the recruitment of Principals and teachers in schools. He highlighted that a six-month interim order has led to difficulties in the recruitment process, causing injustices to children’s education. The Minister was responding to questions raised by SJB MP Rohini Kumari Wijeratne.
Dr. Premajayantha emphasized the need for a time limit on interim orders, suggesting that amendments to the Civil Procedure Code are necessary to rectify this issue. He urged the Minister of Justice to consider adjusting the Code of Civil Procedure to specify the validity period of interim orders. He expressed concern that some individuals attempt to extend interim orders indefinitely, leading to disruptions in educational operations.
The Minister underscored the seriousness of the violation of children’s right to education due to these legal disputes. He compared cases related to the recruitment of teachers and principals to land cases, noting that the impact on children’s education is distinctively significant.
Regarding teacher vacancies, Dr. Premajayantha disclosed that there are currently 32,000 vacant positions. He mentioned that three years ago, 22,000 individuals were recruited as teachers without proper transparency during the recruitment of development officers to the public service. These appointments lacked a proper system and training. Subsequently, legal challenges emerged when efforts were made to provide formal teacher education to these appointees. The resulting interim orders have impeded the recruitment process, affecting children’s access to education.
Dr. Premajayantha conveyed that Provincial Councils will soon gain authority to appoint graduates to replace retired and departing teachers. This move aims to address the shortage of educators in schools. The Minister assured that despite obstacles, steps will be taken to ensure an adequate number of teachers for children, particularly in subjects like science, technology, and English.
He also highlighted the impact of inappropriate teacher assignments on education quality. For instance, assigning an individual with a degree in archaeology to teach in the primary section of a school could undermine the formal education structure. He noted that both the informal teacher placement and the effects of the ongoing pandemic have disrupted education activities in primary sections.
Additionally, the Minister brought attention to a circular issued by the Central Provincial Education Director, which suspended annual salary increases for Principals who fail to achieve a 90 percent pass rate in the GCE Ordinary Level examination. Dr. Premajayantha asserted that policy decisions related to education are the purview of the Ministry of Education, and while provincial education directors can handle administrative matters, they should not make such decisions unilaterally. He emphasized the importance of collaboration and communication between the Ministry and provincial education authorities.
Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe responded to the issue, suggesting that discussions could be held to establish a policy for interim orders issued by courts. He expressed willingness to consider potential adjustments to address the challenges outlined by Dr. Premajayantha.
