Jaffna volunteer teachers stage protest demonstration

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 January 2009, 18:11 GMT]
More than 400 volunteer teachers suddenly gathered in front of Jaffna Education Office at Nalloor Wednesday morning staging a silent protest, bearing placards with slogans condemning Sri Lanka government's delay in appointing them as permanent teachers and its irregularities and corruption in the appointment of teachers. Though key Sri Lanka Army (SLA) officers along with the Education Officials compelled the protesters to call off the demonstration the protesters refused to comply. SLA officials did not permit journalist to cover the demonstration or allow anyone to photograph the protesters.



SLA soldiers and police were immediately deployed in large numbers at the place where the protest demonstration took place.

More than 400 volunteer teachers from different places in Jaffna peninsula took part in this unannounced demonstration.

The protesters said that they had not been made permanent in their posts though they have been serving as volunteer teachers for a long time.



Key SLA officers including the Commander for Jaffna who came to the site urged the protesters to give up the demonstration, accompanied by the Education Officials.

The protesting volunteer teachers, however, continued with the demonstration saying that their protest will continue until their problems are solved.