Prof. GL Peiris, Minister of Education said today given the COVID-19 situation in the country and the teachers’ trade union action, opening schools later this month or in early September is not certain.
Participating in a press conference held at Nelum Mawatha, Battaramulla Monday, the Minister said it has been planned to give the second dose to all teachers and non-academic staff before the end of August.
“Thereafter, it was our intention to open schools in a systematic manner step-by-step subject to health guidelines. But with the current situation, it is uncertain.”
The Minister said in such a situation, it is very important to provide education to the children by strengthening online teaching but if the teachers remove themselves from online teaching, it is the children, who do not even have access to facilities, who will be subjected to injustice and pressure.
“So shouldn’t we be rethinking its social justice?” the Minister questioned.
The students have been inconvenienced due to not being able to give the results of the 2020 GCE Ordinary Level examination which has already been completed. Of the 622,000 who sat for the exam, 169,000 studied aesthetics. The practical tests for those students could not be conducted due to the Covid epidemic.
“The trade unions have stated that they have decided to withdraw from conducting practical tests even though the necessary arrangements have been made to do so. Therefore, it is not possible to release the results of the total 622,000 children who sat for the GCE Ordinary Level in 2020. Can such a thing be justified?” Prof. Peiris said.
“As of this morning, 87% of teachers and non-academic staff have received the first dose of Covid vaccine and that is, 254,000 have been vaccinated. If there are people who have not been vaccinated, we request them to get vaccinated. Arrangements are also being made to vaccinate young people between the ages of 18-30 within two weeks,” He also said.
The Minister of Education Prof. GL Peiris said the Cabinet decided that the best and most appropriate course of action to address the problem of teachers was to do justice to the entire public service through the budget proposals to be presented in three months by considering the economic situation in the country.
The issue of teacher salaries inequality is a historic issue that has dragged on for 24 years during a number of governments but the teachers never withdrew from teaching, the Minister pointed out.
“The question arises as to whether it is justifiable to take professional action as has never been done before in history at a time when the country itself is at risk of Covid and the protection of the lives of the people of the country is of paramount importance,” the Education Minister questioned.
“Shouldn’t we think whether it is a fair course of action according to conscience?”
“No one can say that the government is not sensitive about this. No one can say that the government is trying to cover up or forget the problem. Trade union representatives met with us several times to discuss this. Cabinet ministers also joined me in this. The Prime Minister also had a discussion with these members along with 07 Cabinet Ministers. This issue must be discussed with the Salaries and Statistics Commission. Their views and recommendations should also be sought. The Cabinet discussed the matter twice. The next budget does not have another two or three years. Only a period of about 03 months. But their strong demand is to solve the problem today. The question I address to the vast majority of teachers who have no political motive is how justified it is at this point to make such a request,” Minister Peiris further said.
“We are very happy that some people have stopped the protests and car parades. It is clear that such actions threaten increase the spread of Covid and threaten the lives of the entire population of the country,” Minister of education further said.