President of the Ceylon Teachers ‘Union S. Priyantha Fernando said that the safety of children should be ensured before the government open the schools, which have been temporarily closed for several months due to the Covid 19 virus and the issue of teachers’ salaries should be resolved immediately.
He was speaking during a discussion on Zoom App yesterday (12th). Many parents, scholars, principals and teachers were present at the discussion.
The Chairman further spoke.
At this juncture, the government has taken a political decision to reopen government schools for educational purposes from October. No political decision can be taken on this issue.
No school child has ever been vaccinated to increase immunity to the Covid 19 virus. The lives of these children cannot be put at risk again. The situation in the country is dangerous.
It is necessary to provide both vaccinations to school children. It is also becoming a long term program. Also, the government is exerting various pressures on teachers and principals but we will continue to fight until we find a permanent solution.
At present there is a problem regarding the applications for the GCE Advanced Level Examination. However, a problem has arisen regarding the conduct of these examinations at this time.
We are in a strong position regarding the teacher-principal salary crisis. We will not give up the fight until the government gives us a proper solution to our salary issue.
Mahesh Wijesuriya, Anuradhapura