CTTU to strike

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 February 2000, 15:56 GMT]
The Ceylon Tamil Teachers' Union (CTTU) has decided to stage a one day token strike in support of its several demands. These demands include the withdrawal of the proposed travel pass system in Batticaloa and Ampara districts and the existing pass system for Vanni region and the withdrawal of Tamil medium text books which contain distortion of facts, grammatical and spelling mistakes.

The token strike will be held on March 16, Thursday, few days before the Education Ministry votes in the new Budget are taken up for debate in Parliament, CTTU sources said.

Teachers and Principals of all Tamil medium schools will send a sick note on March 16 and boycott schools, CTTU General Secretary Mr. Mahasivam said.

Some of the other demands put forward by the CTTU are given below:-

• 1. Tamil Principals should be appointed to Tamil schools in provinces outside North East province. Tamil education zones should be carved out in other provinces outside North East, enabling Tamil Teachers to conduct their business in Tamil Language. At present Tamil schools outside North East Province are being supervised by Sinhala education officials who have no knowledge in Tamil language.
  
  
• 2. Infrastructures facilities to north east province be provided on par with other provinces in the country, by appointing Additional Provincial Director to each district, Additional Zonal Director to each of 18 Assistant Directors of Education to each zone for special subjects.

3. Schools in uncleared areas in Vanni region are stored out chemicals and Science laboratory equipment for the last three years. But chemicals, laboratory equipment and steel cabinets meant for schools in uncleared area in Vanni region are stored in Vavuniya awaiting clearance. Action should be taken to send these items to Tiger-controlled Vanni region immediately.

4. All volunteer teachers in Vavuniya, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Vanni region, and Mannar be made permanent immediately.

5. 100 per cent of their salary should be paid as risk allowance to all teachers serving in north-east province as now being paid to all Medical Officers serving in this province. All teachers should be paid risk allowance for 12 months in a year instead of 9 months leaving three months as vacation.

6. Union request the government to decide the initiate of students to Universities from Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu districts based on the number of students sitting for G.C.E. Advanced level examination instead of the basis of projected population of these districts, to ensure fair deal.

 

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