Education Minister Dr.Susil Premajayantha told Parliament yesterday that 462 of the 1,700 teacher appointments given to graduates to fill teacher vacancies in national schools have not been taken even after 14 days.
He told Parliament that 1,700 new appointments were given two weeks ago for graduates in Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Technology and that 462 out of them have not obtained their appointments yet. This was revealed when the Ministry reviewed the absentees of the event
which was organized to grant teacher appointments two weeks ago.The Minister said this while answering the question raised by the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.
The Minister said that appointments were given for graduates as Grade 2 teachers and it is a matter of surprise as to why that unemployed graduates did not obtain their appointments.
The Minister said that the appointments were given to graduates to be employed in national schools at remote areas including Vavuniya, Madukanda and Uhana and they have refused to obtain appointments and it is a great problem.
The Minister stated that since science and mathematics graduates are not produced from these remote areas there is no other option but to direct graduates from other areas to engage in teaching in those areas.
He said the Ministry had requested the Examinations Department to give the list of applicants who are next in the list of marks to replace the 462 teachers.