EP Education Ministry administered by Sinhalese officers - CTU

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 October 2009, 03:48 GMT]
Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) pointed out in a memorandum sent to the President Mahinda Rajapakse Saturday that the development of education in the Eastern Province where Tamil speaking people are in majority is in the hands of three Sinhalese officers who hold the three top posts in EP provincial education ministry. The provincial minister of education is also a Sinhalese, CTU said.

There are 718 Tamil medium schools with 2, 58,134 students and 15,302 teachers in the eastern province. 240 Sinhala medium schools with 71,450 students and 4440 teachers are also functioning in the province.

Tamil medium teachers and students of the province cannot expect fair treatment from the Sinhala dominated administration in the provincial education ministry, the memorandum pointed out.

The three top Sinhalese officials are on extension of service after retirement age.

CTU has its headquarters in Colombo and its president is a Sinhalese.

It has appealed to the President to take immediate steps to change the present Sinhala dominated administration in the province giving more representation to minority communities in the Eastern Province Education Ministry.