Teachers serving in several remote island schools in Jaffna have lost their hardship allowances following a recent revision of school classifications, prompting urgent appeals for intervention by the Education Ministry.
In a letter to the Ministry Secretary, Joseph Stalin, General Secretary of the teachers’ union, stated that many educators working in isolated island schools such as Delft Island, Analaitivu, Eluvaithivu, and Nagadeepa have been affected by the decision.
According to the letter, 23 teachers from three schools in Analaitivu, 13 teachers from two schools in Eluvaithivu, 92 teachers from eight schools in Delft, and 46 teachers from three schools in Nagadeepa have lost their hardship allowances.
The issue arose after these schools were removed from the list of difficult schools under School Classification Circular 01/2024 (1). The new classification reportedly considered factors such as internet access, water facilities, and transport, but failed to account for the significant challenges teachers face when traveling by sea from Jaffna to reach these islands.
Stalin alleged that Northern Provincial education authorities did not adequately highlight the difficulties related to sea access when submitting information to the Ministry, leading to the suspension of previously granted allowances.
He described the failure to address the issue and continue payments as irresponsible, emphasizing that teachers in these remote island schools endure some of the most difficult working conditions in the country.
The letter also noted that several schools in other provinces have similarly lost their hardship allowances under the new system, calling for a comprehensive review of the policy.
Concerns were further raised over delays in implementing the increased hardship allowances proposed in the 2026 Budget, with teachers still receiving the previous payments of Rs. 2,500 and Rs. 1,500.
The union has urged the Ministry to take immediate steps to reinstate the allowances and ensure that the revised payments approved in the budget are implemented without further delay.
