The Hon. K. Kader Masthan

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, under Standing Order 27(2), I wish to ask my question from the Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education.

¶ 02 “Education imprinted in youth” is a proverb. In today’s challenging world, children’s environments and technological facilities create various impacts on their education. Therefore, we must prepare our next generation to suit the future world. At present, children begin preschool education at the age of three and continue for at least two years. Studies indicate that unregulated preschool education is not healthy. I believe no one would disagree that preschool education must be regulated.

¶ 03 Likewise, during the period of internal conflict, due to teacher shortages in the Northern and Eastern Provinces and adjacent border villages in other districts, volunteer teachers were used for teaching. Later, many of them were given permanent appointments. However, many others who possess required qualifications, those who participated and those who did not participate in interviews, are still waiting for permanent appointments.

¶ 04 Although a Cabinet Paper to grant permanent appointments to these teachers was submitted and approved during the previous Government, in Northern and Eastern Provinces, because the Sinhala and Tamil versions of the Paper did not become effective, those volunteer teachers specified therein were excluded. The election period and the economic crisis also contributed to this. Therefore, I wish to emphasize that granting them permanent appointments is very important. Accordingly, I ask the following:

¶ 05 - Can preschool education be regulated and a uniform national preschool system established, bringing all preschool teachers under one umbrella?

¶ 06 - Can permanent appointments be granted to all preschool teachers along with a salary structure and all relevant benefits?

¶ 07 - Can you conduct studies and take necessary measures to eliminate the two-year preschool period, create an educational bridge between preschool and Grade 1, and set the age limit for admission to Grade 1 at five?

¶ 08 - Are you aware that no new cadre has been created for any school that was nationalized in 2014? What action has been taken?

¶ 09 - Considering the war situation and post-war rehabilitation context, with Cabinet approval many volunteer teachers in other parts of the country, excluding primarily the Northern and Eastern Provinces, were given permanent appointments. Are you aware that some who even faced interviews were not given permanent appointments due to political reasons? Do you know that such volunteer teachers have been waiting for Government service, some beyond the age limit, without trying for other jobs?

¶ 10 - If permanent appointments are not given to such persons, their rights are denied and they suffer psychologically and economically along with their families. Considering this, can you appoint a special committee to study and grant permanent appointments to those volunteer teachers or absorb them as teacher assistants?

¶ 11 Thank you.