roadBlockAd
brand logo

Teachers to boycott online education centres

04 Jul 2021

  • Unions cite non-provision of vaccine as main reason

  • Centres opening today to facilitate distance learning

  •  Education Ministry unperturbed by teachers’ threat

By Buddhika Samaraweera   Teachers have decided to boycott the Regional Learning Centres that will be unveiled by the Ministry of Education today (5) to facilitate online education as they are yet to be provided the Covid-19 vaccine on a priority basis. Speaking at a media briefing in Colombo yesterday (4), the Ceylon Teachers’ Service Union (CTSU) and the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) warned that teachers would not report to work at these centres until the Covid-19 vaccine is given to them. The Regional Learning Centres have been set up by the Ministry of Education with the required facilities to enable students who do not have adequate resources to receive education online, and are scheduled to be opened today. The CTSU Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe, speaking at the media briefing, said that in a backdrop where the Covid-19 pandemic has not yet ended, a programme should be formulated to ensure the health safety of teachers and students before starting these learning centres. “No guidelines have been given on how to conduct teaching in these centres. Also, as per the instructions given by the Secretary to the Ministry of Education, the number of students that can be accommodated at each of these centres is 10, but more than 10 students have been called for the centres belonging to certain educational zones,” he claimed.  Jayasinghe also said that information had been received that the electricity and water supply of some schools had been disconnected as a result of the non-payment of certain schools’ water and electricity tariffs. He, however, claimed that the Education Ministry had not allocated any monetary provisions to resolve such issues. “In addition, some schools do not have adequate signal facilities, and another major problem is the inability of teachers and students to travel to these centres. Several schools in a particular area are planned to be covered by one learning centre. So how can teachers and students who come from far away, as well as those who do not have private vehicles, come to these centres? The Education Ministry has not yet carried out any study on these issues.” In particular, he said, arrangements should be made for the daily disinfection of these learning centres in consultation with local government authorities. Meanwhile, speaking at the media briefing, CTU Secretary Joseph Stalin said that they had no objection to the restoration of education which has collapsed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, he emphasised that steps should be taken to ensure the health safety of teachers as well as students in the implementation of these centres. “We have no objection to the establishment of learning centres, but who is responsible if a Covid-19 cluster is created due to the lack of preventive measures at these centres? Therefore, we urge teachers not to report to work at these centres until the Covid-19 vaccine is received,” he noted. When contacted by The Morning to inquire about the issue of teachers planning to not report to these centres, Education Ministry Secretary Prof. Kapila Perera seemed unperturbed. “It does not matter. Let's see. Someone else will be deployed if the teachers are not going to report. Also, vaccines will be given to teachers soon.” The Education Ministry, on 20 June, announced that it had planned to set up regional learning centres to enable students around Sri Lanka to pursue their education online, taking into account the various difficulties faced by them in learning remotely at present. Commenting on this at that time, Minister of Education Prof. G.L. Peiris said the said centres would be open five days a week from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. He also said that there would be computers, laptops, and at least 10 tablets in these centres. Adding that necessary steps for the implementation of this programme have already been taken, and that the Education Ministry has discussed the necessary steps to be taken with all the provincial education directors and other regional officials, Prof. Peiris said these centres should be operated in accordance with Covid-19 health guidelines. The CTU claimed last month that a staggering 60% of Sri Lanka’s student population had not been able to access online education, and that the Government was not successful at providing students with the required equipment. However, earlier that week, Education Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said that only 12% of students had no access to those programmes.   


More News..