The Education Ministry said all issues of the teachers’ and principals’ service have been solved and therefore there was no basis for yesterday’s trade union action.
This government has rectified many issues,which have not been solved for a years of teachers’ and principals’ services by now. The basic salaries of teachers and principals have been increased drastically. For instance the basic salary of a graduate teacher has been increased from Rs.16,120 to Rs 33,330 under this government. Besides, a principal’s allowance has also been increased to Rs 6,000 from Rs 750. Meanwhile measures have already been taken to rectify salary anomalies of teachers’ and principals’ services.
The Ministry expressed its gratitude for the teachers who reported for duty yesterday amidst threats and various hindrances.
The Ministry said there was a political agenda behind the trade union action of teachers.
Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin said yesterday’s trade union action was successful as 241,000 teachers and 15,000 principals had boycotted duty reporting sick leave.
Stalin said their union collective will decide future action of the token strike conducted yesterday after monitoring the response of the government.
“This is only a 24 hour islandwide token strike demanding to rectify salary anomalies in the Teacher’s Service. Schools will be held as usual today,” he added.