Committee to look into shortcomings of N-E schools

PRESIDENT Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said a Ministry Committee will be appointed to look into shortcomings in education in the North and East and alleged irregularities in giving permanency to volunteer teachers.

This follows representations by TNA MPs to President Kumaratunga during a meeting at the Presidential Secretariat on August 25.

North-East Governor Tyronne Fernando, Parliamentarians representing the North and East. President's Secretary, University officials and senior officers of the Education Ministry participated.

TNA members, though invited did not attend the meeting.

President Kumaratunga also said allocations have already been made under the Navodya Schools Program involving 748 schools islandwide to remedy shortcomings.

Political representatives of the respective provinces will be required to supervise the activities. With regard to teacher shortage in these areas, the President said this condition rose as a result of not conducting the examinations to recruit officers to the educational administrative service regularly and that steps have be taken to hold these examinations soon to fill existing vacancies.