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Teachers label online teaching a failure

22 Jun 2022

  • Both main unions slam Govt’s ‘teach online’ instructions
  • Cite parental economic hardships
  • Urge Govt. to provide transport for students and teachers
BY Buddhika Samaraweera Against the backdrop of schools in main cities, including Colombo, being directed to carry out teaching activities online given the prevailing fuel shortage, teachers' trade unions have pointed out that online teaching has proven to be a complete failure. Speaking to The Morning yesterday (21), Ceylon Teachers’ Service Union (CTSU) General Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe said: “We continued to point out that online teaching activities conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic period, were a failure.  “Similarly, online teaching these days is also not successful at all. There are parents who cannot even buy a data card in the present situation. The extent of economic hardship that parents face these days is much higher than what it was during the Covid-19 pandemic period.”  He also said that parents as well as teachers are suffering from a number of economic hardships these days.  He therefore said that the responsibility of the Government should not be to direct teachers to teach online, but to provide a quick solution to the fuel crisis and create the necessary environment for schools to function normally. If not, Jayasinghe said, the education sector, which has been in decline for years due to the pandemic, would collapse further. Meanwhile, the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU), also pointed out that the desired goals in the field of education could not be achieved through online teaching. Speaking to The Morning, CTU President Priyantha Fernando said that this is the first time in the history of the country that the education sector had suffered such a setback due to the weaknesses of the Government. He further said that online teaching is not successful according to the system of education in the country, adding that if it is to be successful, the education system must be reformed accordingly. “It is not because of the weaknesses of the Government that the education system should be reformed. So it is very clear as to what the present Government should do. That is to provide adequate transport facilities for students and teachers and to create the environment for schools to function as usual. There is no point in giving other solutions without fulfilling that responsibility,” he added. Pointing out that the Education Ministry has decided not to operate schools in Colombo, other main cities in the Western Province, and those in other Provinces from Monday (20) to 24 June, given the fuel crisis, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha urged the teachers of such schools last week, to carry out teaching activities online. He further said that education officials, including Zonal Directors of Education and principals have been given permission to continue in-person teaching activities at schools, where the students, teachers, and principals have not been affected by transportation issues. He said that even if in-person teaching activities are conducted, the schools can still conduct online lessons for students who are unable to come to school due to transportation issues.


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