President tells teachers:

People-centric policies to stay

IMF acknowledges Mahinda Chinthana viable

Rasika SOMARATHNA

“However the public, State sector and private sector employees too should reciprocate in the same manner by committing themselves to become active stakeholders of the country’s development process. Taxpayers should honour their commitment and State sector employees too should provide a viable and vibrant service as paid servants of the public,” he added.

Addressing a gathering of newly appointed graduate teachers (415) from the Western Province at Temple Trees the President stressed that the Government had not sacrificed its people-friendly policies when obtaining financial assistance from abroad such as the recently acquired IMF loan.

He also noted that for the first time the IMF had acknowledged, Mahinda Chinthana as a viable policy framework while providing financial assistance to Sri Lanka. The President pointed out that when the present Government assumed office there was a move to cut down the number of State sector employees to 600,000 due to outside pressures.

“We did not agree to such conditions and as a result today the State sector employs around 1.2 million” he added.

The President during his speech also stressed that the present Government had not blocked any employment opportunities even in the face of financial difficulties. “The Treasury never said no. We recruited people for existing vacancies in the defence, health,education, administrative sectors . We also did not neglect development in the face of an ongoing battle against terrorism which was a major financial drain,” he said.

Referring to the growth in recruitment of teachers, the President noted that the Central Government alone had provided more than 31,000 new appointments since 2005 up to now, to supplement the free education system and ensure equity in manpower\facilities to all areas of the country.

“However inequalities still exist in remote areas due to reluctance of certain teachers to accept new appointments to schools in remote villages. This should not be the case. As paid servants of the public, all State sector employees should be commited to providing a viable service without thinking of such petty difficulties”.

“As teachers you should set an example to others in all your activities. Teachers are a much respected sector in the society. Even today when I meet a teacher who taught me during my student days, I never fail to get up and honour him or her. Thus it is very important to uphold the ethics of your profession and set the trend as the custodians of our future generation,” the President added.

The President also praised the decision taken by the Education Ministry to ban cellular phones by students inside school premises and added that teachers too should refrain from using mobiles at school.

He noted that recurrence of some sad incidents which even resulted in suicide due to mobile phone abuse by schoolchildren.

Education Minister Susil Premajayanth addressing the gathering noted that under ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ education had been given the pride of place.

“The Government has been able to provide both men and material to supplement a qualitative free education system in the country and ensure equity. However there are a few shortcomings which too would be addressed in an effective way” he added.

The Minister pointed out that as a result of present Government’s efforts, the student - teacher ratio today had come down to 19 : 1, which was a very healthy indication. During yesterday’s ceremony 415 graduates were given new teaching appointments to Western Province schools.

Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana, Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, members and Ministers of the Western PC, and Education officials, were present.