3,000 principals to call it quits

Education Min. says grievances are being dealt with

By Uditha Jayasinghe

Over 3,000 school principals are to hand over their resignation letters today in protest of unresolved issues that have existed in the service for over 16 years while Education Ministry officials insist that pledges have been made to resolve the crisis by May.
The principals are to rally at the Education Ministry tomorrow to protest the government’s inability to solve issues that have been plaguing the field for over a decade. The Education Professionals Association has threatened to hand over the letters of 3, 000 principals as a gesture of defiance over the government dragging its heels over problems that have been repeatedly highlighted by the union.
Part of the group that is to converge at the Education Ministry will hand over their letters to Education Ministry, Secretary Nimal Bandara, even though they will resign nominally from their posts as principals they will request to be absorbed into the normal teaching service. The union plans to hand over resignation letters in this manner at intervals till the end of next term.
The union insists that because the government has not promoted the principals as they were entitled to since 1992 the principals are losing out on an additional income of around Rs.10, 000 every month. The union is confident that principals outside of their organisation will join in the protest march today.
Meanwhile responding to the allegations made by the union, Education Ministry Secretary Nimal Bandara assured that they were not perturbed by the threats and insisted that they have more than adequately qualified teachers to promote as principals should 3000 officials resign. He also pointed out that it was unfair for the union to take this step when the Ministry had assured them that their grievances would be resolved before the end of May.
“We have been working to resolve these issues under the direction of the Public Service Commission for some time now. We have already made arrangements for Principals of Grade 3 to be promoted by April and Grades 2 and 2(1) to be promoted by end of May. The Unions are well aware of this. These procedures have all been set in motion with their consent and the knowledge of the Public Service Commission,” he said.
Bandara also pointed out that the seniority list, which is essential for principals being promoted to the right grade had been compiled and uploaded to the Ministry website and all views invited on the matter. He maintained that once the measures were completed the appointment letters will be handed out.
Responding to the allegation that some principals draw a lesser salary as a headmaster than they did as a senior teacher Bandara stressed that a circular had been released earlier giving permission for the teacher salary to be maintained throughout their career.