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Teacher transfer approved scheme will be strictly adhered - Governor Mathew

From P.D.A.S. Gunasekera, Ratnapura group correspondent

The scheme of teacher-transfers drawn up and already approved would adhere strictly to the policy spelt out by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga following her instructions to the letter, said the SPC Governor Saliya Mathew at Ratnapura recently.

He said so, at a conference held in the Governor's office, New Town, Ratnapura when the P.A. MPs, W.D.J. Seneviratne and Pavitra Wanniaratchi requested him, not to change under any circumstances, the transfers already made, as a solution to the acute teacher problems in the Sabaragamuwa Province on December 30th 2002.

The approved teacher cadre for Sabaragamuwa Education area was 14,816 Sinhala medium teachers in Sabaragamuwa numbered 15,001. There was thus a surplus of 185 teachers in Sabaragamuwa, the Governor pointed out.

The approved cadre for Tamil Teachers, however was 2098. But the available cadre was 1697 with a deficit of 401 Tamil medium Teachers he added.

Thus in that situation Kegalle district had a surplus of 418 and a deficit of 294 in the Ratnapura district. Governor Mathew made an analysis of the teacher position in the Education zones of both Kegalle and Ratnapura districts and pointed out that in order to equalize the Teacher cadres in the respective zones steps had to be taken.

In addition to that from February 1st 2003, 286 teachers would be transferred in the education zones, the Governor said.

He said that there was no truth in the accusations made by the Minister Jayatlake Podinilame of political discrimination in respect of UNP teachers. All transfers had been effected, according to the transfer scheme of the SPC, by a Board of Transfer consisting of representatives of five Teacher-Unions of which UNP was one.

As the Teachers in excess of the cadre approved for Sabaragamuwa were in the province, there was no other alternative but to solve the problem of the deficit, within the province itself, Governor Mathew stressed. He also said that no Teacher-trainees passing out of the Vidya-Pita in 2003 could be accommodated in Sabaragamuwa schools.

The Secretary of the Sabaragamuwa Education Ministry P. Kodituwakku clarifying the Education Ministry Policy said that no teachers over fifty three years of age, pregnant mothers, teachers with children less than a year old and the wives of those in the active services would be transferred. But those recommended by a medical board were also entitled to these facilities, he added.

In transferring teachers, those in the classified list of difficult schools, serving over a long period, will be given priority over those in 'easy-schools', over a longer period.

The Governor, in conclusion, gave the conference an assurance that he would be guided in the matter purely by the transfer-policy spelt out by the President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

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