The Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan, instructed officials that the annual teacher transfers should only be implemented after fully carrying out the transfers granted to teachers based on “service requirements” in the Northern Province.
A progress review meeting of the Northern Province Ministry of Education, Cultural Affairs, Sports, and Youth Affairs was held today – on Wednesday 11 March 2026, in the evening at the Governor’s Secretariat under the chairmanship of the Hon. Governor.
During the discussion, the progress of projects implemented last year, ongoing programmes, and new projects to be implemented during the current year were reviewed in detail. The meeting also identified the challenges faced in implementing these projects and discussed how they could be carried out more effectively.
Expressing special views afterwards, the Governor stated that if any transfer that has been granted is halted due to an appeal, an alternative transfer should immediately be implemented to fill that vacancy. Transfers for the current year must be implemented strictly. Immediate disciplinary action must be initiated against school principals who fail to release teachers who have received transfers, he said.
The Governor also expressed strong dissatisfaction regarding illegal monetary collections taking place in schools. He stated that although free education is in place, activities of collecting money from students in various ways continue to occur in schools. He noted that he receives numerous complaints regarding this matter every day. Some school principals and teachers, he said, collect money through certain parents and then attempt to distance themselves from the activity by claiming they have no connection to it.
He instructed Zonal Education Directors to conduct sudden field visits to schools. If it is discovered that donations have been received without being officially recorded, proper investigations should be carried out and strict action taken against the principals concerned. He emphasized that such illegal activities can only be controlled if Zonal Education Directors take firm action on this matter.
The Governor also instructed the Assistant Director of the Provincial Department of Cultural Affairs to ensure that regional and district-level cultural festivals are conducted in advance so that the provincial-level cultural festival can be completed by the end of September this year.
Furthermore, he requested the Provincial Director of Sports to arrange a special discussion with all relevant parties regarding the prize money for the “Colours Night” awards before the upcoming national-level sports competitions begin.
The Governor also pointed out that the pensions of some teachers and principals are being delayed due to ongoing investigations against them. “There is no disagreement that those who have made a mistake must be punished. However, officials must ensure that those who have don’t make mistake receive their pensions at the appropriate time without any delays,” he said.
The special discussion was attended by the Chief Secretary of the Northern Province, the Secretary to the Governor, the Secretary of the Provincial Ministry of Education, Deputy Chief Secretaries, the Provincial Director of Education, the Provincial Director of the Sports Department, the Assistant Director of the Provincial Department of Cultural Affairs, Zonal Directors of Education, and several other senior officials.
