• CTSU notes facilities including lecturer shortages  

The Ceylon Teachers’ Services’ Union (CTSU) urged the Government to elevate the facilities in National Colleges of Education and to increase the monthly allowance given to the students of the said colleges.

Speaking to the media yesterday (8), the CTSU General Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe claimed that the National Colleges of Education have become ‘open prisons’ due to the lack of facilities and freedom for the students, pointing out that the existing shortage of lecturers at these colleges have hampered the academic activities. He further stated that the monthly allowance of Rs. 5,000 which is given to the students is not sufficient in terms of the current economic crisis. “When we divide the monthly allowance from the number of days per month, less than Rs. 200 has been allocated per day. Anyone who knows the prices of essentials could understand that the amount is not sufficient at all. If the Government can increase the benefits given to public servants and politicians, why can’t it help these students,” he queried. Speaking about the shortage of lecturers, Jayasinghe noted that there is a shortage of around 1,300 lecturers for all National Colleges of Education. “A total of 2,089 lecturers are required for all the colleges. But, there are only 700-800 lecturers according to the information that we have received. This issue must be addressed as soon as possible. These colleges were built when the incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe was the Education Minister. This is a good move. Therefore, he has the capability to look into these issues more than anyone else,” he added.

Several attempts made to contact the Secretary to the Ministry of Education Wasantha Perera and the Director General of the National Education Institute proved futile.