Stern action against teachers resorting to TU action sought

The Sunday Observer last week sought the views of the public, especially the parents of children and school principals on the decision taken by a section of teachers to boycott the Advanced Level Examination paper marking until their demands are met.

Here are excerpts from the interviews.

The Marketing Manager in a mercantile establishment, Dinesh Jayeratne vehemently condemned the trade union action resorted to by the members of five teacher trade unions to boycott the Advanced Level Examination answer scripts evaluation process.

He said the education authorities must take stern action against the teachers, on the grounds that it was a violation of the fundamental rights of the children.

A technician attached to a private company, Kamal Sivaji said that in India, Government teachers are legally bound not to boycott teaching in their respective schools or to indulge in similar activities as in our country, which could lead to the disruption of the education system.

"Our rules and regulations are lenient and the teachers have got undue advantages from that," he said.

Kanchana Hansi of Negombo said: "I remember my father telling that teaching was a noble profession and encouraged me to be a teacher, but I know the majority of teachers in the present day have brought the teaching profession to the lowest level by indulging in unethical activities such as boycotting paper marking and also by conducting private tuition classes.

An Accounts Assistant in a mercantile firm, Rasika Wijekoon of Bandarawela, also condemned the attitude of the members of these five teacher unions and said that if these teachers were really intelligent, they would never indulge in such low activities which will directly affect the educational career of the younger generation in the country.

A Creative Designer, Yohan Goonatilaka of Bentara said: "I can't believe, how the educated teachers in these five unions have boycotted paper marking of AL students.

"I earnestly request them not to take revenge from students to win their demands as in the case of doctors, taking revenge from patients."

A mother of three children and retired senior teacher of a school, Wathsala Arsakularatne of Hanwella did not blame the members of these teacher unions for the union action taken by them.

"This is a good opportunity to put the Education Department into an embarrassing position and win the demands."

She repeatedly asked the members of these unions to go ahead with their campaign until the Government sorted out the salary anomalies. Mrs. Arsakularatne also said that even during her period the then governments did not focus much attention on the grievances of teachers in the service.

A secretary, attached to an embassy in Colombo, Arunika Samarawickrema blamed Government teachers for disrupting the educational career of children and also doctors for indulging in similar activities which disrupt patients' life.

"I think both teachers and doctors are in the same category, but doctors are worse than teachers,"

She recalled an incident and said that some doctors in Kandy, did not turn up for duty even at a very critical time until the Health Minister gave an assurance to solve their problems.

A Medical officer at a base hospital in Down South, Dr. Malan Beligaswatta was not happy with the decision taken by teacher unions to boycott paper marking of AL students. "The teachers may be having problems, but my plea to them is not to take the revenge from poor students, as many of them are awaiting results to pursue higher studies in private institutions or to enter foreign universities.

He said, although marking answer scripts did not affect children studying in our local universities as most of them are closed due to clashes and protest campaigns, this situation will badly affect children, expected to enter local and foreign private educational institutions as these institutions start their higher education courses on schedule. Retired School Principal, Laksiri Joseph of Dehiwala asked the AL students who are financially well-off to do foreign examinations so that they would never face this nature of campaigns.

A Provincial Councillor in the Sabaragamuwa province, Piyasena Hirimuthugoda blamed the teachers of these unions for conducting such a low campaign against the student population in the country and said if this situation continues, it will affect the school vacation of children in Colombo. Businessman, Nimal Punchiheva of Makandana, Piliyandala asked the Government to rectify the teachers' salary anomalies and end the problem as early as possible for the sake of children.

"We are aware the Government has adequate money to meet the demands of these poor teachers, considering the Government's intention of paying a huge sum of money as pension arrears for former parliamentarians.

Gayantha Peris of Nugegoda said "Indulging in this nature of campaigns by workers in the country is the best way to win the demands, therefore I wish these workers will get the courage to continue their protests.

Kamalsiri Godawatta of Ratnapura said "Government must not go behind these low grade teachers who are indulging in unethical activities and this is the high time for authorities to recall all retired teachers for paper marking,"