The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, I am pleased to participate in today’s debate on the Rs. 6,500 allocation related to the Ministry of Education. Under the ‘Aswesuma’ scheme that replaced Samurdhi, this supplementary allocation is to grant assistance to school students from low-income families. I wish to request that children in rural poor families who are not covered under this scheme also be included. In some areas, children without parents live with middle-income relatives; they, too, should be included. I request the Hon. Minister of Education to consider this.

¶ 02 Time is short, so I will raise issues of the people of Ampara. Regarding the Addalaichenai Teachers’ Training College, I have already informed the Hon. Minister of Education. Applications were called via Gazette to recruit untrained teachers in six subjects—Tamil, Physical Education, English, Islam, Primary Education, and ICT. Applicants came from across the country, not only the Eastern Province. Unfortunately, instead of using the Addalaichenai Teachers’ Training College in my own hometown, all 102 untrained teachers were sent to Kopay for training. I raised this with the Hon. Prime Minister and the Secretary to the Ministry of Education.

¶ 03 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees: Hon. Member, you have one minute.

¶ 04 Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe: Please give me one more minute. In fact, the Kopay Training College has no Islam course. We have no objection to sending them to Jaffna where necessary, but when there is a Teachers’ Training College in Addalaichenai in the same province, sending them to Kopay is unjust. I request the Minister to reconsider this.

¶ 05 There are eight Teachers’ Training Colleges in our country; only four are functioning. The other four lack lecturers. A total of 230 lecturers are needed. Interviews have been held by the Ministry. The Hon. Minister should immediately appoint them and commence training. Otherwise, hiring private lecturers from outside costs about Rs. 7 million per year. Hence, permanent lecturers must be appointed quickly.

¶ 06 Next, regarding Pottuvil education zone in Ampara District: the Ministry had decided to create two education zones. I request the Hon. Prime Minister to take steps expeditiously to establish those two zones in line with the people’s request. Thank you.