Speaking in Parliament today (21), Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya revealed that there are 36,178 teacher vacancies in provincial and national schools across the country.
According to the Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, the distribution of vacancies is as follows: 1,501 in national schools, 4,630 in Western Province, 2,513 in the South, 6,318 in Central Province, 2,990 in North Western Province, 2,780 in Uva Province, 1,568 in North Central Province, 6,613 in Eastern Province, 3,994 in Sabaragamuwa Province, and 3,271 in Northern Province.
The Prime Minister stated that recruitment for these vacancies has been underway since July 28, 2024, and that 353 graduates who have not yet assumed duties in the Third (B) 1 Grade of the Teaching Service are expected to be recruited within the next two months.
He further noted that requests will be submitted to the Recruitment Review Committee, chaired by the Prime Minister’s Secretary, to expedite the filling of the remaining vacancies, with necessary steps to be taken shortly to address the teacher shortage.
