Teacher salary anomalies to be resolved by Dec. 31

By Ananda Kannangara

Education Minister Susil Premajayantha yesterday assured that the teacher salary anomalies will be resolved without any hindrance by December 31 and requested the five teacher trade unions to call off their planned strike, scheduled to be carried out tomorrow and day after.

"I have already instructed the relevant officials to rectify the salary anomalies of teachers based on the recommendations of the Salaries and Cadre Report (SCR) and therefore no union could claim that their salary matters or any other grievances have been overlooked by the Department," Minister Premajayantha told the `Sunday Observer'.

The Minister said that this matter was also brought to the notice of the Prime Minister and steps will be taken to discuss it at a future Cabinet meeting too.

The Minister said the Government in the past too, increased the salaries of teachers as well as other public servants in many occasions and it is also the duty of teachers be patient considering the security situation in the country.

He said the Education Department will also have to resolve many matters, at the Peradeniya and Sabaragamuwa Universities.

Minister Premajayantha also disclosed that the Government has allocated Rs. 91 billion for the development of school education in 2008 and it was a massive increase when compared to the Rs. 65 billion allocations made in 2007.