Members of all Ceylon graduate teachers’ Union have changed their earlier decision to keep away from marking answer scripts of students sitting the GCE A/Level examination, which commenced on Monday (06).
These teachers had earlier taken a decision to boycott the marking of papers, as a means of winning their trade union rights. Now they have decided not to make their own students, the victims of their trade union struggle. The Union said there are more than one hundred thousand graduate teachers who prepare the students for the A.L Examination. The services of about ten thousand graduate teachers are necessary to mark the answer scripts of the G.C.E (A/L) examination and this service will be provided, a media release of the all Ceylon Graduate Teachers Union said.
Meanwhile the Union blamed the other trade Union leaders in the teaching profession for not agitating for solutions to their problems. “Graduate teachers” problems remain unsolved even after 13 years, the statement said.
Some graduate teachers with over 30 years service have stagnated in Grade 2-11 of the Teaching service, while teachers who had been taught by these graduate teachers have been appointed to Grade 1 the release said. It urged the President, Education Minister and authorities in the Education Department to grant redress to them.

Source: http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/08/08/news/14.asp

Photo: One of the so called protests which has become a common sight in Sri Lanka