Volunteer teachers to be absorbed as teaching assistants

COLOMBO: Volunteer teachers are to be absorbed immediately into the State education service as Teaching Assistants.

This was decided at a meeting summoned by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake at his office on November 14, states a Press release issued by the Prime Minister's office.

The question of recruitment and permanency for volunteer teachers was discussed at a Cabinet Meeting presided by President Rajapaksa earlier and it had been decided to formulate a scheme for grating them permanency.

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake was entrusted the task of calling a meeting of all Provincial Chief Ministers to work out a scheme for putting the Cabinet decision into practice.

According to the scheme, all volunteer teachers who have worked for three years and who have the "A" level qualification will be immediately absorbed into the teaching service as Teaching Assistants.

They will be made permanent as teachers, if they obtain a diploma in teaching or a university degree within five years.