Batticaloa Volunteer Teachers pledge to continue fast

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 August 2006, 00:08 GMT]
Members of the Batticaloa District Volunteer Teacher’s Association (BDVTA) have rejected interview notifications sent out by the Ministry of Education and have Tuesday resumed their fast in front of the Batticaloa Zonal Education Office. Citing fundamental errors and discrepancies in the letters sent to them, the volunteer teachers decided to continue the fast which has disrupted the normal working routine of the office, sources in Batticaloa said.

Earlier, volunteer teachers from the Kinniya and Batticaloa arrears had called off their strike as the ministry officials assured the volunteer teachers in Thirumalai and Amparai that interviews for permanent appointments would be held from Aug 1 to Aug 8, 2006.

However, since notices sent out to volunteer teachers by the Ministry of Education was not properly executed and fell short of expectations, with many volunteer teachers excluded from interviews, the members of BDVTA have resumed their strike action.

The president of BDVTA S Nandakumar informs that whilst letters were sent to candidates requesting them to attend interviews on August 1, the zonal education officers were told to hold interviews only from August 2.

There were also discrepancies in candidate names the president added.

The members of BDVTA have sworn to continue the strike action and fast until interviews are held for all volunteer teachers serving the district.