'Vanni volunteer teachers will be made permanent'

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda at a discussion with volunteer teachers of the Vanni district held at the Provincial Education, Cultural Affairs and Sports Ministry in Nallur recently, said that volunteer teachers with suitable qualifications to teach mathematics, science, English and Information Technology would be absorbed into the Ministry on contract basis as early as possible.

The Minister further stated that the request of volunteer teachers of the Vanni District for permanent posts has been considered favourably and that he had communicated with the President and the Education Minister on this matter.

He already has taken action to submit a Cabinet Memorandum to appoint volunteer teachers to the permanent staff. "This was the first time in the history of the country that a Cabinet paper had been submitted recommending permanent appointments to volunteer teachers," the Ministers stated. Permanent appointments were granted to volunteer teachers in the other parts of the county in the past, but has now been discontinued.

The Minister also said that this was a special concession extended to those in the North and East taking into consideration the immense sufferings the people in those areas had undergone during the war period.

The Minister also said that volunteer teachers with suitable qualifications absorbed on contract basis to teach the said subjects would be paid a monthly salary of Rs. 10,000 and would be given permanent appointments soon after the Cabinet decision. Speaking at length, the Minister warned those present at the discussion to be cautious of opportunistic politicians who were in the habit of misleading people.

He also said that the government was taking every possible step to ease out the difficulties the people faced and added that he was a person engaged in politics that brought in justice and peace to people of every community.

He thanked the volunteer teachers for coming forward to have their problems solved through discussion.

Major General G.A. Chandrasiri, the Governor of the North and Sathyaseelan, Secretary to the Provincial Ministry of Education were also present at the discussion.