Teacher salary anomalies : Ministry ready to implement Tissa Devendra Committee Report

The Education Ministry said yesterday that it is prepared to implement the recommendations of the Tissa Devendra Committee on Teacher salary anomalies the moment the report was received by it. The Ministry in a press release said while it was awaiting the approval of the Circular No. 2005/4 from the PSC after it was passed by the Cabinet, applications were called for the examination for promotions to Grade 1 in the teaching service.

While submitting the Cabinet memorandum on Circular 2005/4 it promised to carry out the activities mentioned in the teacher service minute with effect from January 1, 2005.

Accordingly, teachers should sit an examination to obtain promotions to Grade 1 in 2005. Since circular No. 2005/4 covers promotions upto 31-12-2004 the Ministry has already taken steps to hold examinations which had to be conducted annually.

Therefore, applications for sitting the Grade 1 promotion examination will be accepted till September 2 and the examination will be held in November as it is expected to grant promotions in January 2006. Candidates who fulfil qualifications upto December 31, 2005 are entitled to sit for this examination.

This activity will be carried out annually in an uninterrupted manner to grant relevant promotions in January each year. The Ministry said teachers who did not gain promotions in 2005 will be denied their opportunity to gain promotions if this examination was cancelled.

The release also added that a Cabinet memorandum has been submitted by the Ministry to correct the injustice caused to graduates in amalgamating them to teacher service and steps have also been taken to recruit home science diploma holders to the teaching service.