Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Teachers on the agitation trail once again


Accusing the government of neglect in finding a solution to their salary issue, teachers have threatened to agitate once again –this time for more than one day. Earlier in July 2008, teachers had agitated for one day, protesting against the government's failure to implement the 'new' salary scale for teachers.

A spokesman for the Teachers Association, which spearheaded last year's agitation, says this time the protest will be wider with more participation in the atolls. However, with the changed situation he could find support for agitation among teachers much below his expectations.

Much has changed since July. Recently the Civil Service Commission has announced a point system to classify jobs across the whole spectrum of Civil Service. Under the system, which will be implemented across the board, salaries will depend on the points scored by each job. There will be no place in the system for special salary scales for individual sectors or professions. Thus the 'new' salary scale that is the bone of contention for the agitation is actually as dead as a dodo.

Will the Civil Service Commission give a special package to the agitating teachers? Not likely. Giving special treatment to any particular group will open a Pandora's Box of agitation from all other sectors, resulting in the collapse of the Civil Service reform package. At best what the teachers could expect is a fair evaluation of the points their profession scores vis-à-vis other professions. Under these circumstances not many teachers are likely to join the protest.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Civil Service Commission has said they are considering a special allowance for teachers. Is this fair? Teaching is a very easy job compared to drivers, policemen, nurses and immigration officers. So why the special treatment for teachers?

Anonymous said...

Teachers work an average of 20 hours per week. They get all public hoidays and school holidays. So what's there to complain?

Anonymous said...

Teaching is a noble profession. they deserve better.

Anonymous said...

who is responsible for the high percent of failure and drug addiction?

Anonymous said...

Teachers are partly responsible for the ill quality of our youth. They all aught to be demoted. Our teachers are irresponsible, ignorant, ill-mannered and now greedy. I say fire the lot and bring Sri lankans to teach our children.

Anonymous said...

By teachers or not, this is not civil. Its not just them who do back-breaking work. All others get only 30 days of leave while they get whole of school holidays+public holidays. Have some respect to all in the working class.

Alif Laam Gaaf said...

It is wrong to say that teaching is a very easy job. drivers, policemen, nurses and immigration officers etc.. have to think of their job only while on the duty. This is not the case with teachers. They will always have to think of what this student will do or what the other may do. Moreover, very often we tend to think that teaching is all about going into the class with a chalk and a duster. How about the marking of books, making lesson plans, the very different and difficult problems the students come up with, the complains and the pressure from society, parents, government and the students. A good example could be the question below " Anonymous said...who is responsible for the high percent of failure and drug addiction?"
As for this situation, I myself as a teacher do believe that teachers really deserves a better pay. Yet this is not the right time to demand for this. Teachers as the educators of the society needs to consider the situations on the ground and act accordingly. In any how, unlike the previous time, this time the teachers association will get a good lesson that teachers are not interested in politics. TEACHERS ARE IF NOT ALL, MOST, VERY RESPONSIBLE AND WILL NOT COOPERATE THIS TIME IN THE AGITATE. Surely not from the islands.

Anonymous said...

Alifu laam gaafu,
Teachers are not the only ones who have to think about their job while off duty. Even policemen will have to think what sort of problems they will encounter while on duty and plan accordingly. Divers will have to think of keeping their equipment in order to ensure a safe dive with clients. Katheebs will have to worry all the time about any untoward incidents in their idlands. Cooks will have to plan their menus…the list will go on and on.

Anonymous said...

Privatize all the big schools and do away with teachers in government service.

Anonymous said...

all those who write nasty comments about teachers please think where you will be today if not for your teachers.

Anonymous said...

anonymous 12.0

i got a u set from school. my teachers dont pay attention to my homework and do a half hearted job while in class. what he/she asks is go to tution after school where he/she pays attention and charge 1000 for a subject. the teachers salary were increased twice but this did not change. hence teaching is his part time job. the excuse you may say is you dont have enough income. but the teachers are the highest paid in civil services. the answer to this problem is fire all of them and bring teachers from all over world and ban them from givin tutuion privately. the results will show.

Anonymous said...

we dont need no education! we dont need no thought control. teacher leave them kids alone. All in all you are just a brick in the wall.

Mark Twain said 'do not let school intefere with your education'

Anonymous said...

Anni promised during trhe campaign to bring quality teachers from UK,Australia etc. Where are they?Then there will not be any strikes.