With school start times pushed earlier and timetables revised repeatedly, teachers warn of chaos, confusion and looming trade union action if education reforms continue without clarity or planning.
Secretary of the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Union, Joseph Stalin, has warned that trade union action will be launched if discussions with the Prime Minister fail to resolve serious concerns surrounding the ongoing education reform process.
He made these remarks while addressing a media conference held in Parawathi, Hatton, on the 20th, highlighting growing confusion and instability in school administration across the country.
Speaking further, Joseph Stalin said the government plans to implement education reforms next year for Grades 1 and 6, but the process has been plagued by poor planning and a lack of consistency. He pointed out that the government has already revised school timetables for next year four times, with the latest circular issued on the 16th of this month.
He explained that the first circular included two recess periods. When questions were raised about how students could manage with a ten minute recess, a revised schedule was issued with only one recess. Following this, another decision was taken to extend the school day until 2:00 pm.
Subsequently, a separate circular was issued specifically for Muslim schools. According to that circular, Muslim schools were instructed to conduct classes from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and until 11:30 am on Fridays. Joseph Stalin questioned how children could realistically remain in school until 3:00 pm or even 2:50 pm under such arrangements.
He stressed that Muslim schools are not staffed only by Muslim teachers. Sinhala and Tamil teachers also work in these schools, and Sinhala and Tamil students also attend them. He noted that while Muslim schools traditionally conclude classes at 11:30 am on Fridays for religious observances, the current confusion has disrupted long standing routines.
Joseph Stalin questioned how timetables could vary so drastically, with different dismissal times on different days, asking where such schedules were being designed. He said the situation worsened with the issuance of a new circular stating that schools should begin at 7:15 am.
He pointed out that most schools in Sri Lanka start at 7:30 am, and questioned how teachers and students could reach schools by 7:15 am, especially in areas like Nuwara Eliya where weather conditions and transport challenges make early travel difficult.
