Amidst protests against tax hikes and the Government’s conduct, teachers too took to the streets during the past few months expressing concerns about the stability and dignity of their profession, and also in support of other protests that are ongoing.

However, a new development that attracted attention this week is likely to add to the teachers’ plight. Referring to a letter issued by the Presidential Secretariat dissolving the Teacher Transfer Board (TTB), Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa stated in the Parliament that this decision must be looked into as soon as possible, considering that it could pose a serious threat to the independence of the teacher service. He further pointed out that even though teachers who have been serving in the same school for more than 10 years, who had faced difficulties in travelling, and who are seeking a transfer to leading schools, have sent the relevant applications to the TTB, and that their applications were in the final stage of processing. However, their efforts would not bear fruit because of the said decision, which Premadasa referred to as an “illegal and arbitrary action” taken by the Presidential Secretariat.

Education Minister, Attorney Dr. Susil Premajayantha’s response to these concerns was that the said decision was made after taking into consideration the inconveniences caused to the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary Level (O/L) and Advanced Level (A/L) students due to the transfers that were to come into effect next month. While there is nothing wrong with paying attention to the students’ wellbeing, if a decision that was taken for students’ causes would  adversely impact teachers, who are as much a part of the education system as students, that is not a sustainable or wise decision. In fact, decisions that discourage teachers are a hindrance to the functioning of the education system, and in turn affect children in the medium to long run.

Now that the Government has dissolved the TTB, the education sector should look into streamlining the teachers’ transfer system through an updated, more effective mechanism, and with a focus on not just maintaining the transfer system uninterruptedly, but also on adopting new measures to improve the current system. One of the main concerns in this regard is doing away with the traditional system of transferring teachers which considers factors such as a teacher’s service in a school and the nature of the area that they are transferred to. In a context where the country’s socio-economic situation has changed drastically during the past few months and is unlikely to reverse to the previous state in the foreseeable future, the factors that are taken into account when determining a teacher’s eligibility for a transfer should be expanded to include concerns stemming from the prevailing socio-economic situation, along with the duration of service, and other merit-based concerns.

Streamlining this system should also involve depoliticising the transfer system, and making it a more scientific system that is based on factual reasons and is divorced from arbitrary decisions of the authorities. Teachers’ welfare should also receive attention and be more scientific. Cost of living, travelling, and schools’ facilities-related concerns should be taken into account when deciding on the perks available for teachers. Looking into their long drawn-out salary issues efficiently could be a start in encouraging teachers.

What is more, the authorities must pay attention to resuming transfer-related matters that came to a halt due to the dissolution of the TTB. This includes implementing the transfers that had been approved by the TTB before it was dissolved, and expediting the processing of transfer applications that were being considered by the TTB when it was dissolved.