The Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep - Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, I am pleased to join the Committee Stage debate on the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education.

¶ 02 In this Budget, more funds than before have been allocated to education by the National People’s Power Government for 2025, showing the importance our Government places on education. We all know C.W.W. Kannangara introduced free education in 1945. However, in the plantation areas, people only effectively received access much later; the people there faced delays and discrimination in implementation.

¶ 03 In the plantation region, schools suffer significant shortages. Malnutrition and low parental income affect students’ education. Today, housing issues, nutritional insecurity, poverty, safety concerns, lack of resources, 55% female-headed households, insufficient funds, lack of transport to schools, shortage of minor staff, lack of quarters for principals and teachers—all persist. Discrimination in teacher appointments and resource allocation continues.

¶ 04 The greatest lack in plantation schools is teachers and resources for Science and Mathematics, particularly at Advanced Level. We came to this country centuries ago and contribute to the economy; yet in Ratnapura District, there is still no fully equipped residential higher secondary school with full Science and Mathematics streams. Where streams exist, human and physical resources are incomplete; they run due to principals’ and teachers’ efforts, not full Government attention. Teacher appointments are not made according to subject needs or vacancies. In Ratnapura, hundreds of teacher vacancies remain unfilled while graduates exist, particularly Tamil-medium graduates who are overlooked. Appointing local graduates can address shortages.

¶ 05 Recruitment of assistant teachers for plantation schools was called, but court cases have delayed appointments. Once judgments are delivered, we will act to fill vacancies appropriately.

¶ 06 Many acting principals carry heavy loads without being absorbed into the principal service, suffering consequences. We must start a programme to appoint them properly.

¶ 07 I represent the North and East as well. As National Organizer of the Ceylon Teacher Service Union, I visited remote schools in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi. Teachers’ quarters are in deplorable condition—unfit even for animals. There is no transport for teachers from Jaffna to distant schools. These issues must be resolved.

¶ 08 Education is the eye of a nation. The more importance given, the more the country advances. I am not saying previous Governments gave nothing, but allocations were too low and regionally biased, causing setbacks.

¶ 09 We continuously request a university for the hill country. While Sinhala-medium national schools are numerous in many districts, Tamil-medium national schools are very few. In every district, children must have opportunities. We aim to upgrade schools in each district to give better education.

¶ 10 Over 400 untrained teachers serve in the hill country. They must be trained immediately. Also, fill subject teacher vacancies in Tamil-medium schools. In the past, teachers from the North and East taught us, including my A/L Political Science teacher, Mr. Jude Mariaratnam from Jaffna Hindu College. Bring such teachers again with special allowances to serve in plantation areas to improve education.

¶ 11 The Opposition levels various allegations—even today a Member spoke loosely. I note that on the 8th of this month, the Education Cooperative Society (EDCS) elections were held. Of 382 elected, 370 are members of the Sri Lanka Teacher Service Union. This reflects teachers’ stance. While not the whole public view, it is a barometer. Understand this and act accordingly.