Vaccinate teachers, principals before O/L exams: Teachers’ Union

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama  The

Ceylon Teachers’ Service Union (CTSU) requested the Government to take immediate steps to give priority to vaccinate all teachers and principals before commencement of the 2020 Ordinary Level (O/L) Examination, CTSU Chief Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe said.  He said a total number of 46,000 teachers and principals will be on examination duties, which is scheduled to be held at 4,513 centres across the country from March 1 to 10.  

“Considering the recent COVID-19 epidemic situation, the Education Ministry decided to close all schools in the country. The decision was taken in order to protect 4.3 million students and around 300,000 school teachers and principals,” he said.  

But in a situation where large-scale detections of more than 100 COVID-19 positive cases in a day are being reported and an increasing number of deaths, facing the O/L exam is extremely dangerous,” he said.  

Therefore, it would be appreciated if the authorities would take immediate steps to vaccinate them considering the dangers and threats, he added.