Stalin opposes moves to retain services of retiring officers in education sector

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Young officials must not be denied opportunites for career advancement, and attempts by some Class 1 officers of the education service, who must retire by 31 December to remain in the service must be thwarted, General Secretary of the Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) Joseph Stalin, said.

Stalin said by the end of this year, 10,000 employees in the education sector would retire. Among them are 34 Class 1 officers and some Supra Grade officers, Stalin said.

“Out of the nine provincial directors of education, seven are to retire. Some of the officers are conspiring with senior ministry officials and politicians to remain in service. They are trying to create the impression that if they retire, the education service will collapse. This is not true. We have 74 Class 1 officers and there are many others who are eligible to be promoted,” he said.

Stalin said that there are a large number of educated young officers and they need to be given the opportunity to prove themselves.

“Some Class 1 officers have no designated responsibilities. They can replace those who retire. Moreover, the Ministry must announce that these 34 officers are retiring and issue a gazette announcing the vacancies. Although there is less than seven weeks for the end of the year, the Ministry has not done so,” he said.

CTU General Secretary said that senior officers, in many government departments, are trying to convince people that they are irreplaceable. However, this is false and giving them service extensions will thwart the career progression of younger officials.