Responding to a question raised by UNP Kurunegala District MP Ashok Abeysinghe in Parliament today, the Minister said that 10,000 each would be recruited to train as teachers in English, Mathematics, Science, Communication Technology and Aesthetic subjects. Those who had passed Advanced Level examination would be recruited as Teacher Assistants.

They would be provided with the opportunity of obtaining a diploma within a period of three years and to graduate with a Bachelor of Education degree if they continue their higher studies. Talks were being held with the Ministry of Finance to implement the recruitment programme under the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the minister added.

The Minister said that former government had not recruited teachers to teach aesthetic subjects for years, but the incumbent government changed it. “For the first time in country’s history it was under the Mahinda Rajapaksa government we have recruited 3,606 graduate teachers for the Aesthetic subject,” he said. (Special Reporter/HC)