Sack us if you can – Nirmal

Lankatruth   

The Commissioner of Labour has again written to them regarding an arbitration process, they would never agree to such a process and they challenge authorities to sack them from service if possible said the President of Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) Dr.Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri.

Speaking further a media meeting held at the Public Library Auditorium yesterday (18th) to inform regarding the future activities of FUTA Dr. Devasiri said the issue has not been resolved not due to the university teachers but due to two views that exist within the government regarding a solution. He requested the government to mediate effectively regarding the issue of university teachers.

He said despite Minister Basil Rajapaksa and the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance are attempting to solve the issues in an effective manner, the Minister of Higher Education and a group of pseudo patriots have begun to vilify them.

Speaking regarding the request of the Minister of Education to be compassionate towards students and commence evaluation of A/L answer scripts Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri said everyone remembers compassion only when they have exhausted all their tricks and stated that evaluation process will commence without anyone’s bidding as soon as solutions have been given for their issues.

Several university teachers including Senior Lecturer Ven. Dhambara Amila Thera also participated.

Where were the patriotic university teachers, asks Peradeniya FUTA

September 18, 2012, 11:56 pm 

By Cyril Wimalasurendre, The Island

KANDY: The university teachers launched their trade union action two and a half months ago, but where were the so-called Patriotic University Teachers’ Alliance and its convenor? the Peradeniya Federation of University Teachers Association asked yesterday.

This question was raised by the PFUTA at a media conference held to brief the media on the public meeting organised by FUTA in Kandy on Thursday (20).

The meeting, one in a series of public meetings, organised by the FUTA, will be held at the Getambe Municipal playground commencing at 3.30 p.m.

Urging the government to increase funds for education, according to the so-called Patriotic University Teachers’ Alliance is unpatriotic. Then what is patriotic, asked Professor Anura Wickremasinghe, of the Engineering Faculty of the University of Peradeniya.

He asked whether it was unpatriotic to provide a good education to the children.

Professor Wickremasinghe who was earlier Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya said that there had been, throughout history, such selfish characters like the so-called Patriotic University Teachers’ Alliance who would do anything for personal gain.

Dr. Prasanna Gunawardana said the campaign launched and continued for over two months by the FUTA should not be underestimated since the university teachers had resorted to trade union action for the benefit of the country’s future generation.

The so-called Patriotic University Teachers’ Alliance was misleading the public, Dr. Gunawardana added.

Professor Carmen Wickremagamage said that the statement by the so-called Patriotic University Teachers’ Organisation should not be taken serious.

Dr. Sanjeewa Maithripala, Dr. Ruwan Jayasinghe, Dr. Shyama Kumara Banneheka, Dr. H. Jayawardana and student leaders Janaka Thilanga Madushantha also addressed media at the Faculty of Agriculture, Peradeniya.

Bandula appeals to striking dons to evaluate A/L answer scripts

September 18, 2012, 6:52 am 

by Dasun Edirisinghe, The Island

The Education Ministry yesterday appealed to striking university teachers to consider the plight of innocent students and begin GCE (A/L) answer script evaluation.

Addressing a media conference at the Ministry auditorium, Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said that the ministry had been compelled to to postpone the answer script evaluation indefinitely due to the on going strike by university teachers.

"We need 400 university teachers for answer script evaluation," he said adding that those university professors and lecturers assisted 12,000 – 15,000 teachers in paper marking.

The GCE (A/L) examination ended on August 30 and 277,097 candidates answered a total of 523 question papers at the examination.

Gunawardena said that there were 1.8 million answer scripts to be evaluated and they could not evaluate papers without university teachers.

He said that they would not think of any other options to mark answer scripts, other than with involvement of university teachers.

"From our side we have provided all necessities for university teachers including the right to admit their children to popular schools without any hesitation," Gunawardena said.

Commissioner General of Examinations W. M. N. J. Pushpakumara said that he sent letters to university teachers yesterday asking them to participate in paper marking.

He said that the department had earlier scheduled to evaluate answer scripts in three steps from Sept. 01 to Oct. 07.

"If university teachers express their willingness to evaluate answer scripts we will conduct it in two steps at 50 schools to expedite the process," Pushpakumara said adding that earlier it had planned to hold paper marking only in 23 schools.

He said that the delay in paper marking could lead to several problems including delay in university admissions, applying for foreign universities, local higher educational institutions and jobs.

When contacted by The Island for comment, President of the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations (FUTA) Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri said that they had no problem with innocent students, but they could not participate in paper marking while on a strike.