Teachers disgruntled over extra school sessions | Sunday Observer

Teachers disgruntled over extra school sessions

30 June, 2019

The Ceylon Teachers Union has threatened to take trade union action against Southern Province (SP) Governor, Keerthi Tennekoon’s decision to add an additional hour to the daily school session commencing tomorrow, July 1 in schools which comes under his purview.

The direction to hold school sessions till 2.30 p.m. was issued by the Governor in an attempt to ensure the schools cover up for lost time due to closures following the Easter Sunday attack. However, the move has not sat well with teachers in the province. “Schools were only informed on Friday about the decision,” General Secretary of the Union, Joseph Stalin said, adding that some schools had only been informed of the decision over the phone.

According to Stalin, the decision made by the Governor is arbitrary and unfair as teachers across the country have been voluntarily working longer hours to cover syllabuses. “He never discussed with us,” he charged.

“Therefore the decision making an extra hour compulsory cannot be accepted,” he said. The teachers led by the Unions are expected to resist the move.

“We have already informed the Governor and the Provincial Education Secretary asking them to withdraw the circular” he added, failing which the unions are threatening to initiate a trade union action in protest.

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