The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) has urged the government to address discrepancies in the payment of allowances for principals and teachers participating in the 2024 G.C.E. Advanced Level (A/L) examination duties.
CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin, speaking at a press conference, raised concerns about conflicting directives from the Commissioner General of Examinations regarding transportation allowances for examination staff.
Stalin revealed that a circular issued on November 11 promised a transportation allowance of Rs. 1,000 for staff traveling more than 10 kilometers to an exam center. However, a subsequent circular issued on December 12 significantly reduced these allowances.
- For distances over 10 kilometers: allowance reduced from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 500.
- For distances between 5 and 10 kilometers: reduced from Rs. 750 to Rs. 400.
- For distances between 2 and 5 kilometers: reduced from Rs. 500 to Rs. 300.
- For distances less than 2 kilometers: reduced from Rs. 300 to Rs. 200.
“This sudden reduction has created confusion and frustration among exam invigilators, who are already working under challenging conditions,” Stalin said.
He stressed the importance of fair compensation to maintain the morale and efficiency of the examination staff and called on the government to resolve the issue promptly to ensure smooth functioning of the ongoing examination process.
