The Lanka Teachers Union announced that its trade unions will convene tomorrow to address critical issues related to teacher promotions, salary increments, and service stratification. Speaking at a recent media conference, the union’s Secretary, Mr. Joseph Stalin, voiced his frustration over the Education Minister Harini’s perceived lack of engagement with the union’s concerns.
“Out of the more than two hundred and forty thousand teachers engaged in service, over one hundred thousand have yet to receive their promotions. Additionally, salary increments remain unattainable, and service confirmations for some teachers are still pending,” Stalin stated. He emphasized that despite the Education Minister’s active participation in various events and discussions about bringing A/L students back to schools, implementing new education reforms, and initiatives like cleaning the country and the Ministry of Education, the pressing issues facing teachers remain unresolved.
Stalin further criticized the Education Minister for not addressing the union’s concerns directly. “We have seen the Education Minister talk about numerous initiatives and reforms, but the major problems our teachers face are being ignored. There has been no meaningful discussion on these issues,” he added. He highlighted that the Education Secretary had mentioned the submission of a Cabinet paper to address these matters, but as of now, the paper has not been presented.
“The Education Minister has not spoken to the trade unions about these critical issues. She only takes advice from officials and operates according to their directives. There is no genuine dialogue or discussion. Instead, her focus seems to be solely on attending festivals and events,” Stalin asserted.
The upcoming meeting aims to strategize on how to effectively advocate for the teachers’ demands and seek accountability from the government. The union leaders hope that by bringing these issues to the forefront, they can secure the necessary support and reforms to improve the working conditions and professional growth of teachers across the country.
The Lanka Teachers Union’s stance underscores the ongoing tensions between educators and the current administration, highlighting the need for transparent and responsive governance to address the foundational challenges within the education sector.
