A group of unemployed Higher National English Diploma (HNED) holders in Sabaragamuwa Province has raised serious concerns regarding their prolonged unemployment, alleging that nearly 370 HNED holders in the province have been unable to secure jobs as English teachers for over six years.
The graduates, who obtained their HNED qualifications in 2018, claim that despite passing their teacher examinations and face-to-face interviews in 2021, they have not been recruited into government schools. They say that while the Ministry of Education conducted interviews in May 2024 to recruit graduates who passed the examination, no action has been taken to appoint these graduates as teachers, leaving them in a state of uncertainty.
These graduates were informed that there are approximately 700 vacant positions for English teachers in Sabaragamuwa Province alone, but despite this, the recruitment process has been delayed for years, causing them significant distress. Many of them argue that their qualifications are going to waste, and their futures are at risk due to the lack of job opportunities in their field.
They also claim that ordinary English graduates with similar qualifications to HNED holders have been recruited in the past without proper procedures being followed. They argue that this inconsistency in recruitment processes has further exacerbated their frustration.
In addition, the group pointed out that across the island, about 2200 unemployed HNED holders who have passed the required exams remain without jobs, with no official steps taken to address their situation over the last six years.
The graduates have made urgent appeals to the Ministry of Education and the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Ministry of Education, urging them to take swift action and ensure that qualified HNED holders are recruited to fill the vacant English teaching positions in schools. They stress that it is crucial to address this long-standing issue to ensure that their educational qualifications are put to use and to provide a path forward for their careers.
