Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardena announced plans to bolster Sri Lanka's English medium ordinary level classes by recruiting 2,500 teachers, aiming to expand the program amid a shortage of educators.
Gunawardena disclosed to reporters on Tuesday that currently, 765 schools have been selected to offer English medium education, with a goal to increase this number to 1,000 schools.
The government has already sanctioned 4,441 English medium teachers, with intentions to elevate the count to 6,500.However, challenges persist in teacher recruitment due to low salaries.
The minister acknowledged this issue, emphasizing that English-medium teachers will receive salaries equivalent to other educators in the state sector.
Despite this, the private sector offers higher remuneration for teachers in subjects such as bio sciences, chemistry, physics, IT, accounts, English, and foreign languages, leading to some individuals opting for private sector positions over state employment.
Gunawardena highlighted instances where individuals have left higher-paying private sector roles for state jobs, underscoring the complexities surrounding teacher recruitment and retention.
Despite hurdles, the government remains committed to addressing the shortage of English medium teachers to enhance educational opportunities for students across the country.
