Teachers unions clash opposite education ministry

COLOMBO (News1st): A heated situation arose after trade unions clashed over the education ministry's decision to recruit principals without competitive examinations. A joint trade union, comprising teachers and principals opposed the new recruitment process while the Public Education Services Union supporting the decision. "We would like to say to the Government that we oppose appointments that encourage bootlicking instead of sitting for an examination," Mahinda Jayasinghe, the general secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Services Union said. But, Wasantha Handapangoda, the president of the Sri Lanka Public Education Services Association, insisted that these appointments would be made regardless of what others say. "There are several issues pertaining to the competitive exam system including age discrepancies," Janaka Silva, a member of the Kalutara Zonal Principals Association argued.