Cabinet will today take up the matters raised by the teachers and Principals and take a final decision, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Dullas Allahapperuma said.
Responding to a question by a journalist on the trade union action by teachers and Principals, the minister said the Government, in policy-wise, is in agreement to remove the salary anomalies and make it a “Closed Service”.
He told the media yesterday that those requests would be met during the next Budget to be presented after the General Elections.
“The Education Ministry has in writing informed the Finance Ministry in this regard about a month ago. However, you are well aware that we are operating under a Vote on Account and we have no provision to make additional funds for this purpose until we present the next Budget. These were long standing matters, and you cannot expect the Government led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to solve all of them within 101 days,” he commented. The minister said 14 representatives of the seven striking unions met him along with the Ministry Secretary yesterday to discuss their matters.
“We request the teachers to uphold their professional dignity and not to play with the children’s education. However, we do not have a hostile attitude towards the strikers, in contrast to the previous Government. We have even allocated a separate demonstration site. Yet, we are always open for discussion,” he said.