Ministry stops English training for Tamil teachers in South

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 August 2008, 11:20 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Education Ministry has decided not to enroll Tamil teachers from the NorthEast to English Teacher Training College in Maharagama and Kalutara for English Language training when the courses recommence on September 1. Only Sinhalese teachers are to be admitted in these education institutions in future, according to education officials.

Tamil teachers who have been selected for English Language training course from the NorthEast in future would have to undergo such training in the NorthEast and not in the south, according to ministry's decision.

Tamil teachers selected from the districts of Mullaitheivu and Killinochchi are to be admitted to the Vavuniyaa Teacher Training College and Tamil teachers from the eastern province are to be admitted in the Batticaloa Teacher Training College, sources said.

The ministry's decision came in the wake of arrest of two Tamil teachers who were enrolled in Maharagama English Teacher Training College in the month of June on suspicion that they were involved in terrorist activity. Subsequently the English Language Teacher Training Course was terminated with immediate effect.

New courses are to begin on September 1 in these two colleges.

Ceylon Teachers' Union has condemned the decision.