Western Province faces Shortage of Over 4,000 Teachers

According to Dhammika Wijesinghe, the Chief Secretary of the Western Province, the deficit in teachers is most acute for subjects taught in English medium, which is exacerbating the issue.

To address this ongoing crisis, the provincial council has introduced several measures aimed at bridging the gap. These include the recruitment of graduates with Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degrees from the University of Peradeniya and the University of Colombo, who will be integrated into the teaching service. 

Additionally, some current development officers in schools, who meet the qualifications, are expected to be absorbed into teaching roles.

The situation has seen some positive developments as well, with over 3,900 graduates who passed the recent competitive exams being recruited into the teaching service in the Western Province. 

These efforts are part of a broader plan to strengthen the educational infrastructure and ensure that students receive quality education despite the ongoing teacher shortage.