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Lecturers to go on strike

3 July 2010 09:17 am - 22     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Kshanika Argent

A token strike by university lecturers organised by the Federation of University Teachers Association will be held on July 27 in protest of ‘unfulfilled promises’ made by the government regarding university teacher’s salaries. 

Speaking to Daily Mirror online, Dr. Mahin Mendis of the Federation of University Teachers Association stated that at a meeting in 2008 with President Mahinda Rajapakse, the Association was assured of a salary revision within three months and that in 2009 when the teachers had approached the government on the matter stating they would strike, Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapakse had promised a 25-50% increase in academic allowances.

According to Dr. Mendis, the Association is demanding that the 25-50% increase in academic allowances be made until the salary revision is made by the President.

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  Comments - 22

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  • Musnad Sufian Saturday, 03 July 2010 02:49 PM

    its going to be a striking lecture

    raj Sunday, 04 July 2010 05:29 AM

    School teacher
    What is your qualification?

    Upali Sunday, 04 July 2010 04:12 AM

    You all had "food for thought" with "Thithata Matha" before elections. Is not it?

    ishan Sunday, 04 July 2010 04:03 AM

    dear school teacher,
    Many university lecturers fall into senior lecturer category (many universities only recruit senior lecturers nw) and they should have post graduate qualifications, at least a two year MPhil (in reality all most all have, Masters and PhD). For a person who is having a PhD for an engineering field can get at least 75,000, even in the worst scenario (i.e. his/her first job in the lowest paying firm in SL,sorry I am commenting about the field I am familair). But uiversities basic salary for a senior lec is Rs 37500, with annual increment of Rs.750. So please dont give ridiculous arguements my friend! If this continues, in future you will find people without post graduate qaulifications teaching in universities, thus university lecturer will be exactly same a school teacher! this is nt gud for the country

    Ranjith Silvaranjith Sunday, 04 July 2010 03:55 AM

    DEAR MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION, There are many volunteer teachers willing to work for the development of our mothewr country and willing to offer services voluntarily.

    Please open a channel to focus these resources and solve there problems without agreeing to high headed demends.

    May be these are not kind of loyal set who represented by NGO/s.

    Elaris Saturday, 03 July 2010 06:04 PM

    Salaries of university academics should be comparable to those who are in similar services state sector. In this regard it would be useful to publish the salary scales of staff grade officers of the central bank,medical officers in health dept and respective grades of university academics.

    Mohamed Shafraz Saturday, 03 July 2010 05:40 PM

    Yes lecturers salary should be increased. Engineers get more then their lecture in Private sectors. if they join private sectors they can earn much but they doing service. if can spend much for this Ministers why can increase lecturers salary.

    Gost Saturday, 03 July 2010 05:27 PM

    Yes, no one ccan live with poor saleryies what we get. It's reasonable to strike. think of those who get less than 60000.
    Government can increase easily Rs 5000.

    abcd Saturday, 03 July 2010 04:39 PM

    Dear President. Don't increase even a single cent for these thug style so called lectures. Useless hels. never teach any thing properly and most of them dont know at least what they are talking. They can not do any private sector job becouse of their lack of skills. if any one ask why dont teaching propery, their answer is, it is student responsiblity to learn 80% and they are for 20%. Only they byharted some books, words by words without knowing proper meaning & talking big with havy proudness. If they are that much worth why they can not resign and go for private jobs. All are gready shameless behaving lectures, more over you people want salary increament also? 20- 25? for what? Let thease people do A/L tution clasess. its enough.

    menaka Saturday, 03 July 2010 04:28 PM

    that is because most of the teachers in so called international schools do not have a big bargaining power coz they are not at all qualified for the job.

    Lokumalli Saturday, 03 July 2010 04:26 PM

    Nowhere in the world are teachers paid what they deserve. How can anyone expect a lecturer to support his or her family on 35,000? And school teachers much less? It's no wonder that when a teacher goes abroad and gets a PhD they don't return to live in penury.

    I Hussein Saturday, 03 July 2010 09:45 AM

    Much awaited strike. Sound good starting with lecturers, this is the begining others going to follow suit.

    Guruparan Saturday, 03 July 2010 02:09 PM

    School Teacher! You know the Basic salary of a probationary lecturer is JUST 27000 rupees! Who said it is 60000?

    Thisahamy Saturday, 03 July 2010 12:48 PM

    We are already printing money. This is why the cost of living is increasing day by day. The economy is out of hand. It may soon go for a free fall.

    i know something Saturday, 03 July 2010 12:18 PM

    here is the story

    1. you graduate with bachelors at age 24
    2. join uni as an instructor for a salary of 15000
    3. stay in the uni for at least one year until you get a postgraduate scholarship
    4. study for PhD for about 4-6 yrs with a stipend just enough to cover the expenses
    5. now you are 29/30, with a PhD and with small amount of savings
    6. you return home, join a uni as a junior lecturer for a salary of 35000

    7. If you want to go up (like to become an associate prof or prof), you need to publish conference papers (at least couple a year) which require registration fees, air ticket fees etc....

    Now could somebody please tell me is 35000 justifiable? People have needs, you need to build a house, raise a family while you are conducting lectures.

    As far as i can remember, the salary scales of uni lecturers hasn't been updated for a long time. isn't a little pay hike justifiable?

    Sicillian Saturday, 03 July 2010 11:34 AM

    Students did not strike for a long time so they decided.

    Chandrabose Saturday, 03 July 2010 10:50 AM

    It is unfair to compare the salary of school teachers with National University lecturers.

    Paravo Saturday, 03 July 2010 10:42 AM

    Most of the International schools get work done from teachers for very low salaries. Some times it is less than a domestic worker salary. It is very unfair on them.
    Government should look into this matter.
    Even some international schools poor pay like Rs. 5000.00 for a teacher. The maximum salary will be Rs 12,000.00 or Rs 15,ooo.oo . But they take the maxinum from them. Teachers are very important in a country.

    shani Saturday, 03 July 2010 10:25 AM

    School teacher is under wrong impression! Most of the university lecturers are postgraduate degree holders who earns around Rs 35000 (including the academic allowance).only the heads of the department/ professors get close to Rs 60000.00. Remember these are the people who could have earned much more if they are in the private sector with lot of other benefits.

    Calistus Jayatilleke Saturday, 03 July 2010 10:18 AM

    Now it is time to stop lecturing and listen to lectures from the government as you people had placed all your bets on one side.

    GMJ Saturday, 03 July 2010 10:06 AM

    Ah! But at last election you people told that everything is alright down there right?

    school teacher Saturday, 03 July 2010 09:57 AM

    when a school teacher survives with 25,000 Rs why cant you guys survive with more than 60,000 Rs, You guys are pushing our presdient to print money again.


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