COLOMBO, 11 August 2021, (TON): The Cabinet has decided that the best way to resolve issues faced by teachers is to address salary anomalies of the entire government sector in the next budget.

Education Minister Prof. Peiris said that the teachers had attempted to have their salary issues solved for 24 years, but none of the B governments had addressed it constructively. However, this is the first time that teachers have threatened and stopped teaching.

The government is sensitive to the plight of the teachers and we have admitted that this issue must be solved. Representatives of unions met me several times to resolve the issue and they also met the Prime Minister. We must discuss this with the National Salaries Commission and the Cabinet has discussed this twice.

The Minister of Education said that the budget for 2022 would be presented in November. Prof. Peiris urged the unions not to endanger the lives of people by holding demonstrations during the pandemic.

Prof. Peiris said that the academic and non- academic staff in schools would be fully vaccinated by the end of August and that schools reopened depending on the pandemic situation.