Teacher Unions not ready to betray struggle for Rs. 5,000

The Ceylon Teachers Service Union says no Teacher is ready to betray their struggle for a mere allowance of five thousand rupees.

Speaking to NewsRadio, Chief Secretary of the Union Mahinda Jayasinghe in reply to a statement by the Secretary to the Ministry of Education said they must provide a fair and concrete solution to their concerns, before schools reopen.

He recalled a statement made by the Ministry Secretary requesting teachers to report back to schools by accepting the Rs.5,000 allowance.

However, Jayasinghe said teachers need not continue in the 76 day long struggle if a mere Rs.5,000 allowance is sufficient to answer their concerns.

The Chief Secretary revealed that teachers are holding discussions to take a final decision on a course of action to follow when schools reopen.

He assured that such a decision will be communicated to all teachers when the Ministry of Education announces that schools will reopen affirmatively.

However a final decision in this regard has not been made and therefore Jayasinghe requested authorities to respond to teachers demands.