Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) Joseph Stalin says the government will have to suspend Circular 5/2015 to effectively stop schools from collecting money.

Addressing the media, Stalin said that the suspension of Circular 5/2015 is essential to implement this decision.

“This circular states that the total expense of the school must be divided by the number of students and collected from them. This is why amounts ranging from Rs. 11,000 to Rs. 8000 are collected from secondary schools, and amounts from Rs. 3000 are collected in primary schools. Parents cannot handle such expenses under the current circumstances,” he said. 

Stalin further said that schools were collecting money for painting at present, which he pointed out was the duty of the government.

He pointed out that only a new circular explicitly prohibiting all forms of such collections would ensure compliance. 

Stalin also stated that the attempts will fail if legal action is not initiated against those found violating the new circular.

His comments come after Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya recently announced in Parliament that this year, there was no need to collect money from parents in any way.

“If you are collecting money, stop it immediately. The Education Ministry Secretary has already issued an order not to collect money in schools,” she added. (Newswire)

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Thirty-four (34) individuals, including the Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) Joseph Stalin, have been released from a case filed for staging a protest in violation of quarantine regulations in 2021.

The group was ordered to be released from the case when it was taken up for hearing before Colombo Additional Magistrate Manjula Rathnayake today (Jan 06).

The thirty- four individuals, including Joseph Stalin, were arrested during a protest staged against the General Sir John Kotelawala National Defence University Bill on July 08, 2021. 

The Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF), the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) and the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) also participated in the protest. 

The group was arrested under the provisions of Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance. (Newswire)

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The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) has called for a complete overhaul of the Department of Examinations, citing fraud.

Speaking to the media, CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin revealed a list issued by the department in 2024 consisting of the names of 473 persons involved in exam-related fraud.

“The list consists of 473 persons who were involved in various exam-related fraud. They have been prohibited from being engaged in any exams. Divisional Director Generals and senior officials are among those named in the list,” he said. 

Joseph Stalin pointed out that it was necessary to completely restructure the Department of Examinations due to the current circumstances. (Newswire)

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The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) has announced that the trade union action launched by teachers and principals will continue tomorrow as well. 

CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin told the media that all teachers and principals will report sick and will refrain from reporting to duty on Thursday (June 27).

Joseph Stalin further said the decision had been taken to protest the firing of tear gas and water cannons by the Police to disperse the protest that had been staged by CTU trade union members in Colombo today. 

School teachers and principals had reported sick and refrained from duty today, over several demands, including salary anomalies, resulting in over 10,000 schools being forced to close. 

Simultaneously, members of the CTU trade unions staged a protest march from Fort Railway Station to Lotus Road in Colombo after which the Police resorted to firing tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters. (Newswire)

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At least 10,026 state schools were forced to close today due to a strike action launched by teachers and principals over salary anomalies, General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) Joseph Stalin said.

Addressing the media today, Joseph Stalin urged the authorities to address their demands, including salary issues faced by teachers and principals, and issues faced concerning paper-marking charges. 

He further said that the strike action launched today is being carried out by teachers, principals, and the Ceylon Teachers’ Union, which consists of 30 trade unions. 

Pointing out the impact on the school system due to the ongoing strike, Joseph Stalin urged the authorities to resolve their issues soon. 

Meanwhile, a protest march is underway by several teachers and principal unions in Colombo over several demands, including salary anomalies. 

Traffic congestion has been reported near Olcott Mawatha opposite the Fort Railway Station and Lotus Road in Colombo. (Newswire)

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The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) has warned of an islandwide strike due to the failure of authorities to increase the salaries of teachers and principals as promised in Budget 2024.

CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin told the media today that a strike action will be launched on June 26 if the authorities fail to address their issues. 

He further said that teachers and principals would report sick and launch an islandwide strike action on the said date.

According to Joseph Stalin, the Union is demanding that the Education Minister intervene and provide the allocated Rs. 46 billion funds for salary hikes this year. 

Joseph Stalin further announced that all paper marking at all marking centres will stop at 1.00 pm tomorrow (June 12).

He revealed that this decision has been taken as they are currently receiving the paper marking charges proposed last year.

“Paper marking charges require to be amended. Despite a Cabinet committee being appointed last year to address this issue, the charges have not been increased,” he said.

Joseph Stalin demanded the Education Minister and Commissioner of examinations address the issue soon. (Newswire)

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