Police attack volunteer teachers in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 29 July 2008, 03:53 GMT]
Police in Batticaloa assaulted volunteer teachers Monday around 8:00 a.m when they were about to go on a procession from Batticaloa bus terminal to Batticaloa Hindu College to hand over an appeal to Sri Lanka Education Minister Susil Premajayantha seeking permanent appointments, President of Batticaloa District Volunteer Teachers’ Association, Arulaiah Mohnaraj said. The minister was the chief guest at the event in Batticaloa Hindu College held to give appointments to graduates in Batticaloa district.

Nearly 80 volunteer teachers from the four Educational Zones in Batticaloa district had attempted to march towards Batticaloa Hindu College when they were attacked.

After the attack, around 10:00 a.m, the volunteer teachers sat in a peace protest in Thaa’ndavanvea’li Church near Batticaloa Hindu College and then it was possible for four representatives of them to meet the Minister of Education.

The minister, on hearing their grievances, promised that the volunteer teachers would be appointed permanent in their posts in the first week of September, members of the Association said.

189 volunteer teachers in Batticaloa district are serving without their jobs being made permanent.

An interview was held in Ocotober 2007 for more than 175 volunteer teachers and the 159 teachers selected in the interview had been told that they would be made permanent in a month.

Education Department high officials visited the related schools and conducted inquires after receiving complaints that interviews were not conducted in a fair and equitable manner.

Some of the volunteer teachers who appeared for the interview have served 3 to 6 years in difficult areas in the district. Their posts had not been made permanent though they had appeared for two interviews.

Deputy Provincial Director Mr. Natkunam had informed the representatives of the volunteer teachers 24 June that their posts will be made permanent before the end of July in the meeting held at Batticaloa District Additional Education Office convened on instructions by the Chief Minister of Eastern Provincial Council.