Do away with waste: Give teachers their dues

I have watched with sadness how the teachers protested to obtain their just demands. I reflected on what my teachers taught, and silently prayed for them as they rendered yeoman service for students under their care, to get to where they are today in life. The first thing that struck me was to remember a great teacher telling students that for a “deed to be good and blessed with success, that the thought should be good” . This is what the Buddha said: Sabbha papassa akaranam, kuslassa upasampada satchitta pariyo dapanam, etham buddanu sasanam.

Then we were taught not to steal or acquire wealth the wrong way, and that it will not last. We were also advised to lead righteous lives, and remember that we enter the world with nothing and leave also the same way. From the young days, we were told not to attempt to pass examinations the wrong way, and if that was found, such scars will remain till you die. I am grateful to them and have in turn inculcated such noble values in my children, and emphasised that wealth accumulated the wrong way will make their children suffer.

It is indeed a tragic situation that no government placed importance on education and provided only 1.6% of GDP for education. I often wonder whether this was done on purpose, as politicians can manipulate an uneducated electorate. That is abundantly clear since our masses are so gullible that they get carried away by the fairy tales of politicians. Nelson Mandela said that one way that a country could be destroyed without bullets was to deprive people of a sound well rounded education.

I was surprised to read a news item in your issue of 6 August, quoting a minister, that the salaries and pension account was very high in the state service. He said that the government was in a bind over a massive salary and pension bill.

Perhaps politicians are unaware of or choose to ignore that the unaffordable salary bill was largely due to irresponsible politicians, who bloated the public service. Conscious of that fact they added more and more. It is an acknowledged fact that the public service can function and serve society well, with a little over half the number of the workers.

We have to look at what it costs to get a small country with limited resources governed. We have 225 members of Parliament, many unfit to be in a national legislature, drawing emoluments as Ministers, State Ministers, etc., with perks which cost the taxpayer an arm and a leg, when their basic needs are not provided.

Since the learned politician lamented, my suggestion to meet the just demands of Principals and Teachers is to:

A. The government prunes the cost of maintaining 225 in the national legislature by enforcing a 25 % reduction in salaries. Many countries had done so, as it was immoral for those who opted to serve the people, should continue to enjoy when millions are in distress.

B. Sell all the Mercedes, BMW 7 series and Range Rovers now used by ministers, as this sale will provide the necessary funds. Perhaps the doctor is aware that there are many who do not own vehicles.

C. Recover money drawn by politicians from the President’s Fund, as that was not meant for politicians to use. A name comes to mind, the man who referred to teachers as “kalakanni”, who after getting compensated by the hotel after his attempt to jump from one balcony to another, without any qualms of conscience drawing 20 million.

D. The price of five star hotel food provided when more than half the population is near starvation must be increased to be in line with what star class hotels charge for meals.

E. Sell the Mercedes that were imported by the former President on the eve of elections that cost two hundred million dollars. He must be made to vacate the sprawling mansion he made for a ruling president, taking two houses. Since the president uses his private residence, this location must be put to state use.

F . Convert the idling conference hall in Hambantota that cost billions, to a hospital to accommodate the large numbers now on the floor. This applies to the vanity tower in Colombo too.

G. Last but not the least, stop this waste on plaques since public funds are used. Certainly, the place a plaque if some philanthropist donates a facility. We note today the names of ethanol dealers, kudu karayo, chain snatchers and the dhammika peni drinkers all over.

Mr Editor, cost cutting must start from the top, since the majority now in Parliament are unworthy to be lawmakers. They are signal posts and are activated mechanically.

The teachers issue must end and the children must get back to books soon. A paediatric psychiatrist commenting on a talk show, said that the effects of separation from the teachers and a school environment will be felt in a decade or two. Sad.

JEEWAKA RANDENIYA