The Hon. Dilith Jayaweera

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, under Standing Order 27(2), I raise the following questions of national importance concerning education in Sri Lanka and request clear answers from the Hon. Minister of Education:

¶ 02 01. What is the Government’s current policy for recruiting teachers to schools, and what are the minimum qualifications required to be appointed to the service as a teacher?

¶ 03 02. What is the current number of teacher vacancies in National and Provincial schools, district-wise?

¶ 04 03. (i) Will the successful candidates of the 2019 Open Competitive Examination for recruitment as Dharmacharya/Dharmachari to teach religious subjects (Buddhist, Hindu, Islam, Roman Catholic and Christian) to be placed in Grade 3-II(A) of the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Service in National and Provincial schools be recruited to the Teachers’ Service? (ii) If so, when? (iii) If not, why?

¶ 05 04. How many Pirivena and Dhamma school teachers are currently serving? What is the present number of Pirivena and registered Dhamma schools? Does the Government have any study and programme to improve the quality of Dhamma and Pirivena education? If not, why?

¶ 06 (i) Will the current minimum quarterly allowance of Rs. 5,000 paid to Dhamma school teachers be increased to Rs. 15,000? (ii) If so, when? (iii) If not, why?

¶ 07 Thank you.