Even north’s preschools are militarized!
Kilinochchi, considered by the LTTE as its capital city in the past, is today a heavily militarized area. The security forces carry out various activities there, including conducting preschools.
Have you ever heard of preschool teachers who earn Rs. 32,000 a month? For that you have to go to Kilinochchi town. Everybody knows that an average Sri Lankan preschool teacher draws a salary of between Rs. 4,000 and Rs. 6,000 a month. One who has followed the required professional courses will rarely get more than Rs. 15,000. But, nowhere else, one is paid Rs. 32,000. When an average preschool teacher in Kilinochchi gets around Rs. 6,000 as the monthly salary, why do those who teach at the military-run preschools get such a big salary? We believe that to be part of militarization. That is, these preschool teachers are considered a lot that enjoy privileges of the military.
The Army provides them training courses, trips and educational tours. As the Army’s official website reports, the security forces headquarters in Kilinochchi had arranged a two-day educational tour for them covering the north and the east. Read the related article at http://www.army.lk/news/kilinochchi-troops-organize-annual-tour-pre-school-students.
The most interesting part is very dangerous. Children who study at these military-run preschools have to wear a uniform with a badge with certain letters that say they are of the Army. Doesn’t that indicate that even the small children are victims of militarization? After strong objections by civil and human rights organizations of the area, the children were ordered to wear a jacket over the uniform. These children cannot wear a dress of their choice and this uniform is compulsory.
By a special correspondent
