Is SL made education hub by forcing teachers to kneel in front of petty politicians – LTSU asks
SUNDAY, 16 JUNE 2013
Is the government trying to make Sri Lanka the hub of education in Asia by forcing teachers who strive to make students disciplined and give education to them to kneel down before petty provincial councilors asks the General Secretary of Lanka Teacher Services Union (LTSU) Mahinda Jayasinghe.
Speaking at a media conference held at Hotel Nippon today (16th) Mr. Jayasinghe said punishing a lady teacher of Nawagaththegama Navodya Vidyalaya at Anamaduwa is vehemently denounced by teachers in the island.
He said, “The teacher lodged a complaint at the police station on Friday, the day of the incident. However, the police don’t arrest the provincial councilor. The following day he is having a discussion with Minister Basil Rajapaksa. The police are forced to arrest the culprit due to continuous reporting of the incident by the media and the pressure from the residents of the area.
Now thugs of the provincial councilor, who is himself a thug, is terrorizing the persons who gave evidence. It is reported that the Deputy Principal who gave evidence has already withdrawn his evidence through an affidavit. In another few days time the teacher would be made to say that she knelt down on her own. There is such pressure from thugs.
This incident is not only an arbitrary act of the provincial councilor Ananda Sarath Kumara. The government repeatedly harassed state employees. Government Minister Mervin Silva tied a Samurdhi officer to a tree. His son assaulted an Army major. The government did not take any action regarding these incidents. What is happening are consequences of this non-action.
The society has come down to the low level where provincial councilors punish teachers. We ask the government to remove all teachers from schools and hand over schools to politicians. The Secretary to the Ministry of Education Gotabhaya Jayaratne recently presented to the Mahanayaka of Malwatta Chapter a code of ethics for teachers. It is the politicians who need codes of ethics not teachers.
The government is appointing its stooges as acting principals. Its henchmen are appointed as zonal directors. Education is being politicized.
Hence, the attack on the lady teacher at Anamaduwa is an attack on all state employees. We ask all teachers not to be afraid. Condemn this incident with contempt. Take maximum action against this sordid act. We hope to discuss regarding this incident with other trade unions. We hope to take trade union action as well as legal action against the act.
The Secretary of the LTSU branch of Puttalam Zone A.H.M. Piyasena addressing the media conference said all those who have been politically victimized are getting together to take action.
Residents of the area have expressed their indignation regarding the incident. An agitation would be held by the teachers of the Puttalam Educational Zone against the incident on Tuesday he added.
