The government plans to recruit more than 23,000 teachers within this year to address shortages in schools and reduce long-standing issues related to teacher transfers, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said.
She made the remarks at a meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education held on Feb. 18. Harini said approval has already been granted for the recruitments and that steps are being taken to complete the process before the end of the year.
She said the initiative is expected to significantly ease the existing teacher shortage and minimize complications arising from teacher transfers. Recruitment will be carried out through open and limited competitive examinations, primarily targeting graduates, she added.
During the meeting, a report prepared by a committee appointed to propose recommendations for the establishment of a National Education Council was presented to the consultative committee. The committee was appointed under a subcommittee chaired by Deputy Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe.
Officials said the report, compiled after several rounds of discussions, will be published on the ministry’s website and opened to public comments and suggestions for a one-month period.
Progress reports of several subcommittees were also presented. Deputy Minister Madura Seneviratne briefed the committee on developments in the higher education sector, while Deputy Minister Kaushalya Ariyarathne presented findings on human resource shortages in schools. A report on physical resource deficiencies in schools was submitted by MP Samanmali Gunasinghe.
Ministers, deputy ministers, members of Parliament, and officials from institutions under the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education attended the meeting. (Newswire)
