Eastern volunteer teachers demand permanency

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 February 2006, 17:43 GMT]
Eastern Province Volunteer Teachers' Association has decided to launch a fast unto death campaign if the Ministry of Education fails to make all volunteer teachers permanent without delay before the forthcoming local authorities poll. The decision was taken at a special meeting of the association held in Ninthavur Al-Ashrak National School recently attended by seven hundred and twenty four volunteer teachers, sources said.

If the government fails to heed the deadline, we would be forced to boycott the local poll and also would launch fast unto death and would seek relief through law courts, the officials further said.

Several volunteer teachers were made permanent last year on the basis of the interviews held earlier. However few such volunteers have received permanency. Even those who attended these interviews were not made permanent. President Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse who promised all volunteer teachers permanency during the presidential poll. But he has forgotten his promise and has given permanent appointments to only a few, officials added.