The Hon. (Dr.) Madhura Senevirathna

¶ 01 Hon. Member, thank you for raising that question. The concern is valid. The teacher shortage is significantly affecting schools, especially those related to the estates. We are personally aware of both the teacher shortage and the lack of physical resources in those schools.

¶ 02 At the beginning of 2024, we recruited a cohort to the position of Teacher Assistants through an examination, interviews, and practicals. The plan was to absorb them into the Teacher Service after they fulfilled the required standards of the Teacher Service Statute within five years. They are doing valuable work. However, at present, due to a court action, the process has been delayed. We hope to conclude it soon.

¶ 03 Additionally, we carried out recruitments to National Colleges of Education (NCoEs) in 2024, specifically aligned to subject requirements and regional vacancies, to provide some relief to this issue. I am not claiming perfection; but even in future graduate recruitments, we will strive to match subject needs and local vacancies to reduce disparities. Furthermore, among our 17 NCoEs, we prioritize placing graduates produced by the Sripada National Institute of Education in estate schools. In this manner, we are working to close the teacher gaps in estate schools.