Education Minister to fill vacancies

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

All vacancies prevailing in the Education Administrative Service Grade 1 will be completed by the end of September, Education Minister Susil Premajayanth said.

The Minister was addressing the gathering which was held in Colombo yesterday to grant appointment letters to principals who reached the Principals’ Service Grade 1. The Minister awarded Grade 1 promotions to 1,908 principals who are presently in Principals’ Service Grade 2 – 1. In addition 605 Tamil medium principals were awarded Grade 1 promotions by the Minister.

Due to certain reasons the promotions for Principals’ Service Grade 1 officers had been at a standstill for 13 years. As a result no Principal has been promoted to Grade 1 since 1996.

According to the 13th amendment, Provincial and Zonal Education officials have to be responsible for the issues related to the last term test papers. The Education Ministry has already taken steps to inquire into these issues and stern action will be taken against the errant officials irrespective of their positions, Minister Premajayanth said. “The third term exams will be conducted under the direct supervision of the Education Ministry.

The question papers will be given free of charge and students need not to pay examination fees. As the Education Minister, I will take all possible steps to deal with the matters in the Education sector,” the Minister added.