New graduate teachers for State schools
[September 8, 2005 - 11.00 GMT]

At a ceremony at President’s House yesterday (7th September) 700 young graduates selected from all Provinces were given their official letters of appointment by President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

These new graduate appointees will fill the teacher vacancies in National and Provincial schools. The President who is also the Minister for Education handed over similar letters to 56 officers of the Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service recruited through a competitive examination.

During a brief address to those present the President said teaching is a noble profession and teachers are entrusted with the responsibility of moulding the lives of the future generation. She said in 1994 school teachers were paid a paltry salary of Rs. 3500,  but now it has increased four-fold making the profession a dignified, honourable one. 

The President recalled that in 1999 a batch of 14, 000 graduates were recruited to the State service. Early this year a record number of 42,000 graduates were recruited to the government service and she said it was significant that nearly 50% of the recruits are for the Ministry of Education.

Kumaratunga lamented despite being a nation not short of resources several important national issues had been left in abeyance due to an ineffective Administrative Service not geared to serve modern needs. She said the because of a dearth of mature people in politics and ones without political insight, the country has not progressed as it should have.

Speaking of the Education sector she said ad hoc appointments to the teaching profession of those without qualifications made the service inefficient. The President said, that she is confident that the graduate teachers recruited now, would work to enhance efficiency and improve the quality of education.

Deputy Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Chief Ministers of Western and Central Provinces Reginald Cooray and Sarath Ekanayake and Senior Education Ministry officials were at yesterday’s ceremony.

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Last Updated Date: September 8, 2005 - 11.00 GMT