Accolades for Education Ministry circular

The Education Ministry Circular No. 2005/4 relating to teacher promotions has attracted union accolades as well as criticism from various quarters, stated an Education Ministry release.

The circular was formulated after discussion and consensus with trade unions to provide promotional prospects to 150,000 school teachers within three months.

Accordingly, 5000 teachers who were outside the Teachers' Service will be absorbed into the Teachers' Service. A total of 30,000 graduate trainee teachers and Moulavi teachers will receive permanent appointments. Their training period will be counted against the permanent service for promotions. Seven thousand five hundred graduates who were not professionally qualified will receive promotions. Graduates who were stagnated will receive double or treble promotions at once.

The number of teachers due for promotion to Grade I in this manner is around 30,000. Instructions have been issued to provincial authorities to implement the provisions of this circular. Other than one union, all other Teachers' Trade Unions have requested the Ministry to implement these provisions without delay, Education Ministry Secretary Dr. Tara de Mel said adding that this is not a circular that should be cancelled but should be implemented to solve many problems in the Teachers' Service.

The release said the circular, after Cabinet approval was forwarded for approval by the Public Service Commission. Applications were called for the Examination for promotions to Grade I of the Teachers' Service.

Circular No.2005/4 covers promotions up to December 31, 2004. Hence, the Ministry took action to conduct the annual examination for promotion to grade I for 2005. The date for closing of applications has been extended to September 2 this year. Candidates who qualify till December 31, 2005 are eligible to apply for this examination.

The examination is expected to be held in November while the promotions are expected to be made effective from January. A Cabinet Memorandum has also been presented to rectify any injustice caused in the process of absorbtion of Graduate Teachers. Such cases will receive redress before June end. The Ministry is also planning to recruit Diploma Holders in Home Science to the Teachers' Service and to eliminate salary anomalies as soon as the Tissa Devendra Committee Report is received.