The Hon. (Mrs.) Rohini Kumari Wijerathna

¶ 01 Mr. Presiding Member, at the time of adjournment, I raise this question from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education.

¶ 02 Based on the Sobodhini Salary Schedule of 01 January 2022 and the salary structure prepared by the Ministerial Sub-committee, the salaries of teachers and principals were increased. The anomaly that arose due to the non-increase of salaries of the Sri Lanka Teacher Service at that time has not yet been rectified. Among such anomalies, novice lecturers recruited in June 2005, who had earned salaries in the Teacher Service before joining the Sri Lanka Teacher Educators’ Service, have created an internal salary anomaly within the Teacher Educators’ Service at present. Therefore, I look forward to answers from the Hon. Minister to the following questions arising in this regard:

¶ 03 01. Do you accept that such a salary anomaly exists?

¶ 04 02. Do you accept that this has resulted in several internal issues in Faculties of Education and Teachers’ Colleges where a novice lecturer is drawing a higher salary than a senior lecturer?

¶ 05 03. When will this salary anomaly be removed?

¶ 06 04. It is their view that this anomaly will further worsen due to the current budgetary allocations. On Monday the 14th they held a massive demonstration in front of Isurupaya regarding this, but no official intervened. Why were officials not present in the Ministry on a public day?

¶ 07 05. They have requested an interim allowance until the salary anomaly is resolved. How will this be granted?

¶ 08 06. While officers in other executive grades get promoted to Grade I after 12 years, officers in the Teacher Educators’ Service get promoted only after 17 years. Do you accept that this promotion scheme is unfair to them?

¶ 09 07. Why is this promotion mechanism not granted to the Teacher Educators’ Service? What steps are being taken now to grant it?

¶ 10 08. Students who passed the 2023-2024 G.C.E. Advanced Level have not yet been admitted to Faculties of Education. When will they be admitted?

¶ 11 Hon. Deputy Minister, additionally I ask you a new question. As you know, even though new human resources have been provided to the Faculties of Education, there are major shortages in physical resources, especially new technological equipment. If we are moving towards new education reforms, teachers and students must be equipped with knowledge and modern technology. Please clarify the measures you are taking in this regard.