The Ceylon Teachers Service Union yesterday called on the Government to increase public expenditure on education to 10% from the current 2.59% as low investments in education will cause the country’s education system to spiral downwards and threatened to protest if their requests are not met in the 2012 Budget.
The union’s secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe said the Government has allocated Rs.33.25 billion for the Education Ministry and Rs.24.47 billion for the Higher Education Ministry in the 2012 Budget.
He said these are meagre sums when compared to the allocation of Rs.229.94 billion for the Urban Development Ministry, Rs.144.57 billion for the Ports & Highways Ministry, Rs.124.22 billion for the Finance and Planning Ministry and Rs.104.57 billion for the Economic Development Ministry.
“There is a vast difference in the allocation of money invested by the Government in education and health as opposed to road and urban development and other areas. Education and Health are the most vital areas that the Government should focus on,” Mr. Jayasinghe said.
The union said that public school teachers have not received promotions in over three years and many have not received their pensions.
“We have been making these demands for years but they have been falling on deaf years. Nevertheless we will fight for these demands,” he said. (By Olindhi Jayasundere)
The union’s secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe said the Government has allocated Rs.33.25 billion for the Education Ministry and Rs.24.47 billion for the Higher Education Ministry in the 2012 Budget.
He said these are meagre sums when compared to the allocation of Rs.229.94 billion for the Urban Development Ministry, Rs.144.57 billion for the Ports & Highways Ministry, Rs.124.22 billion for the Finance and Planning Ministry and Rs.104.57 billion for the Economic Development Ministry.
“There is a vast difference in the allocation of money invested by the Government in education and health as opposed to road and urban development and other areas. Education and Health are the most vital areas that the Government should focus on,” Mr. Jayasinghe said.
The union said that public school teachers have not received promotions in over three years and many have not received their pensions.
“We have been making these demands for years but they have been falling on deaf years. Nevertheless we will fight for these demands,” he said. (By Olindhi Jayasundere)
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