Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has confirmed that a salary increase for public servants, including teachers, will be implemented in the near future. This announcement was made during a discussion with the Teachers' Principals' Trade Union Alliance at Temple Trees on Thursday (8th February).
The meeting focused on various challenges facing the education sector, particularly issues relating to teachers, principals, and the teacher advisory services. Key topics discussed included the promotion process in these services, salary discrepancies, professional concerns, proper transfers within the Teacher Principal Service (both national and provincial), and the admission of students to schools. Other issues addressed included the collection of funds, recruitment of principals for national schools, new education reforms, and challenges within the Pirivena system.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya assured that measures are being taken to prevent the admission of students to schools without available vacancies and confirmed that the Ministry of Education will no longer issue letters permitting such admissions. Furthermore, she pledged that steps would be taken in the future to raise salaries for all public servants, including teachers.
Other issues brought up during the discussion included the charging of fees in semi-government schools, limiting class sizes to a maximum of 35 students, and the introduction of cut-off exams for the Teacher Advisory Service. Prime Minister Amarasuriya also emphasized the importance of continued dialogue, proposing a monthly discussion session between the Teachers' Principals' Trade Union Alliance and the Prime Minister's office.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Labour Mahinda Jayasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Education Nalaka Kaluwewa, Additional Secretaries to the Ministry of Education, and Joseph Starling representing the Teachers' Principals' Alliance, along with other union members.
This dialogue marks a significant step toward addressing ongoing issues in the education sector and reflects the government's commitment to improving both the quality of education and the welfare of public servants.
