The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to speak in this debate on the Budget Heads of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education.

¶ 02 The 2026 Budget allocates, relative to GDP, the highest share to education in recent history—2.04% of GDP. Those now advising us from the Opposition once allocated as little as 0.98% and 1.02% at different times. For the first time in history, our Government has provided this highest share—2.04%. As our Prime Minister said, we advocated for years that allocations be increased progressively; now we are doing so. Last year Rs. 619 billion; this year Rs. 704 billion—an increase. We assure that in 2027 we will allocate even more. Education is our priority number one, two and three; because education determines a nation’s future, we shoulder this responsibility.

¶ 03 Accordingly, we unlocked recruitments that had been blocked for years. Since 2017 there were no recruitments to the Education Administrative Service—not even under the 2015–2019 Government. We recruited 502 to the Education Administrative Service and 580 to the Teacher Educators’ Service. This year we are recruiting 4,134 teachers, including for Colleges of Education. The competitive exam for principals has been gazetted on the 14th. We will also shortly gazette recruitments to fill remaining vacancies in administration, teacher educators, teachers, and teacher advisors.

¶ 04 Some in the Opposition have not completed early childhood development; despite repeated clarifications here, they either didn’t hear, didn’t understand, or pretend not to. Please first develop early childhood understanding.

¶ 05 On graduate teacher recruitment: Applications were called by Gazette on 27.01.2023; the exam was set for 25.03.2023. Four Supreme Court cases were filed and, two days before the exam, an interim order (23.03.2023) restrained it. It was not the Government that stopped it; a section of those same graduates did, with support from minor political groups and their lawyers. Later all four cases were dismissed. The Opposition Leader talks of a “settlement.” I saw him talk about it before the Presidential Secretariat. Where is it? Table it—like he tabled many other papers. There was no such settlement. Now that the final case in the Court of Appeal has concluded (case no. 1906 and others), next year we will hold two exams: one to absorb the Development Officers (as of 31.12.2022) into the teacher service for existing vacancies, and another (for vacancies up to 30.06.2025) for the other graduates. The Ministry has prepared the plans.

¶ 06 To those repeatedly misrepresenting the Teacher Service Constitution, I will table the 1994 Sri Lanka Teacher Service Constitution and Gazettes of 31.10.1994 and 03.04.1995. Read before debating. The Opposition Leader says appointments should be to Grade 2-11 of the Teacher Service—he said it today and earlier. But Grade 2-11 is for B.Ed. qualified education degree holders; general graduates are not appointed directly to 2-11. Please learn the basics before speaking.

¶ 07 This Budget moves forward with higher allocations and needed reforms. We must also strengthen education administration and fill vacancies in teacher educators and advisors; recruit methodically.

¶ 08 On principals’ salary issues: The problem arose because multiple recruitments were made over years off the same 2019 exam. We will henceforth limit recruitment to the intake year of the exam, and in future conduct annual exams linked to that year’s intake. The Ministry has prepared proposals, Sinhala and Tamil translations finalized, and a Cabinet Paper will be submitted shortly.

¶ 09 This Budget increases College of Education student allowances by Rs. 2,500; teachers’ difficult-area allowance by Rs. 1,500 (we accept it is still insufficient; more would be better). We inherited an economy driven into crisis; nonetheless we increased principals’ allowances by Rs. 1,500; raised the festival advance to Rs. 15,000; provided Rs. 10 billion for disaster loans; raised property loans to Rs. 5 million with 4% and 2% interest concessions. These benefits accrue to all in education without protests or struggles—through this Budget.

¶ 10 On salary increases: A Class I teacher now at Rs. 78,063 will get Rs. 88,322 from January next year. Grade 2-1 from Rs. 66,482 to Rs. 76,158; Grade 2-11 from Rs. 56,237 to Rs. 61,559; Grade 3-1 from Rs. 50,020 to Rs. 53,940; Grade 3-11 from Rs. 46,771 to Rs. 49,886. Principals: first step from Rs. 79,994 to Rs. 90,667; second class from Rs. 68,021 to Rs. 75,996; third class from Rs. 59,957 to Rs. 66,119. Similar increases apply to teacher advisors. There will be a further increase in January 2027.

¶ 11 For those chanting “salary anomaly” daily, please study the 1994 Teacher Service Constitution I am tabling. It clearly sets competitive exams and professional reviews for progression from 3-1 to 2-11, and from 2-1 to Class 1.

¶ 12 Remember who governed from 1997 to 2024: about 19 years by SLPP/SLFP and 7 years by UNP/SJB coalition (2015–2019). None solved these issues in 26 years. We will. We assure all teachers and principals that we will resolve them.