No decision to appoint air force personnel as school teachers - Education Minister

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

The Ministry of Education has not made any decision to appoint air force personnel as school teachers at any point, Education Minister  Professor G. L. Peiris told Parliament yesterday.  

“The Ministry of Education has not made any decision to appoint air force personnel as school teachers and we have not been informed of such a move by anyone,” the Minister said in response to a question raised by SJB MP Rohini Kaviratne in the House last morning.  

“I will look into the matter if there is such a plan. However there is no plan according to my knowledge,” he added.  
At the same time the Minister said the Government is looking towards re-opening higher education institutes such as university colleges which have been closed at the moment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Also he assured that the Government will draw up a plan to ensure that all children who sit for the grade five scholarships get equal opportunities when it comes to gaining entrance to popular schools. “I would like to remind you that all the children who got 200 marks in last year’s grade five scholarship examination were from rural schools,” he said.