Teachers’ Union slams compulsory Poya Day meeting for principals

Colombo, July 26 (Daily Mirror) - The Ceylon Teachers' Union (CTU) has strongly condemned the decision to hold a meeting for school principals in the Kandy education zone on a Poya Day (29), with General Secretary Joseph Stalin accusing education authorities of making an unfair decision on behalf of the government.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Stalin said the Kandy Zonal Education Director should not have taken such a decision, arguing that government officials organising the programme would receive overtime payments for working on the public holiday, while principals would not receive any such compensation.

"The Zonal Education Director must not take such decisions representing the government. Those organising the programme on the Poya Day will be paid overtime, but principals will not receive any payment. Therefore, it is far more appropriate to hold this meeting on a normal weekday," he said.

The controversy follows a circular issued by Kandy Zonal Education Director D.C.I. Andarage directing all principals, deputy principals and assistant principals in the Kandy education zone to attend a programme titled "A Clean Society" under the national mission "A Clean Culture – A Clean Sri Lanka".

According to the circular, the programme, organised in collaboration with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, is scheduled to be held at Kandy Girls' High School from 8.30 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. on July 29, which falls on a Poya Day (29).

Stalin urged the education authorities to reschedule the programme to a working day, saying compulsory participation on a public holiday was unjustified and unfair to school administrators.