The Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I take great pleasure in speaking on the Votes of this Ministry because I have the utmost respect for educators. I have said before: teachers’ and principals’ life aspiration is to see their students reach higher than themselves. That magnanimity is unique. Their salaries are nothing compared to their effort and goodwill.

¶ 02 On salary scales: when teachers and principals protested, the Hon. Prime Minister and others supported them. Due to those protests, in 2022 the first stage of the Subodhini Salary Commission recommendations was implemented, with assurances that stages two and three would follow in subsequent years, but they did not.

¶ 03 Comparing this Budget’s three‑year increments to full Subodhini implementation over three years: an SLTS 2‑II teacher would receive Rs. 66,880 under this Budget vs Rs. 82,150 under Subodhini (difference Rs. 15,270); SLTS 2‑I difference Rs. 27,310; SLTS 1 difference Rs. 34,990; SLPS 3 Rs. 9,870; SLPS 2 Rs. 25,120; SLPS 1 Rs. 32,230. If the economy permits, I urge the Hon. Prime Minister to revert to Subodhini in the next Budget. I will strongly support it, and I doubt anyone here would oppose. Cuts can be found from unnecessary Ministries, including Defence. Education deserves priority.

¶ 04 Second, the Civil Security Department (CSD) is running preschools in the Northern Province, paying preschool “teachers” allowances over Rs. 30,000–40,000, while the Ministry of Education provides only Rs. 6,000 to preschool teachers. This is militarization of education and it happens only in the North. It must stop immediately. All preschools must come under the Ministry of Education, with salaries at least matching what Defence pays.

¶ 05 The Northern Province urgently needs about Rs. 2 billion to complete partly built education facilities.

¶ 06 There are severe teacher vacancies: total cadre 18,983; current recruitment 15,426; vacancies 3,557; SLEAS vacancies 111; minor staff 397. Zone‑wise vacancies include: Jaffna 261; Valikamam 498; Vadamarachchi 333; Thenmarachchi 189; Jaffna Islands 222; Kilinochchi North 97; Kilinochchi South 281; Mannar 452; Madhu 216; Vavuniya North 236; Vavuniya South 283; Mullaitivu 318; Thunukkai 171. Please fill them.

¶ 07 Also, the UGC will hold an exam on 21 March for promotion of Management Assistant Grade III to II. There are 61 applicants from Jaffna; 40 are women who are pregnant, nursing, or undergoing fertility treatment. In previous years, exams were held in Jaffna. If not Jaffna, at least Vavuniya. Outside‑district candidates also prefer Jaffna due to cost; the University can provide accommodation. Please consider this favourably.

¶ 08 Education must be the heart and soul of the country. Capable people are leaving because we get this wrong—due to racism and misallocation of resources. Abroad, our people excel. Let us correct this, beginning with education.

¶ 09 Thank you.