Sri Lanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe has indicated plans to designate teaching as an essential service to safeguard children’s education, emphasizing the necessity for teachers to be present in schools during crucial morning hours. He warned of potential measures if educational continuity is disrupted due to teacher absences.
These remarks were made during a discussion with the chief prelate of the Asgiri Chapter, Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Nayaka Thera, in Kandy. The move to classify teaching as essential aims to prevent interruptions in educational services, often prompted by strikes.
Currently, some of Sri Lanka’s teacher and principal unions are raising concerns over wage disparities.