Ceylon Teachers Union Chief Secretary Joseph Stalin claims there are no permanent principals for 302 national schools countrywide. Speaking on a statement made by the President at a recent Cabinet meeting that there has been no permanent principal for Thurstan College for eight years, he said a shortage of principals has also been reported in 302 national schools for years.
There are 353 national schools in the country. The vacancies for principals have not been filled for years even though applications were called for filling those vacancies last year and therefore, these 302 schools are under acting principals, he said.
“Generally, when principal vacancies are going to be filled, the mediation of politicians and Past Pupils’ Associations can be seen and these forces try to keep acting principals in schools. This unethical mediation hampers the impartial process of filling vacancies,” he said.
Earlier, on two occasions, in 2012 and 2015, applications were called for filling vacancies at schools, but the unnecessary mediation hampered it, Stalin said.
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