The progress review meeting of the Northern Province Ministry of Education, Cultural Affairs, Sports, and Youth Affairs was held today – on Wednesday evening (17 June 2026), at the Governor’s Secretariat under the chairmanship of the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan.
During the meeting, progress on matters discussed at the previous meeting and the various programmes being implemented under the Ministry of Education were reviewed. In addition, the progress of projects being carried out through the Provincial Departments of Education, Sports, and Cultural Affairs with funding from various sources was examined in detail. The Governor provided instructions to expedite development projects and offered guidance on addressing challenges encountered in the field during their implementation.
The Governor was informed that various transfer policies relating to the Department of Education – Northern Province had been prepared and submitted, and that observations and comments made by trade unions regarding these policies had been forwarded to the Provincial Public Service Commission.
The meeting was also briefed on applications received from teachers who had been teaching subjects other than those for which they were originally appointed and who had been given the opportunity to switch to their appointed subjects, as well as on the next steps to be taken in this regard.
While it has been pointed out that teacher deployment rationalization within the educational zones had not yet been fully completed. However, Officials assured the meeting that the process was continuing and would be finalized in the near future.
The Provincial Chief Secretary provided appropriate guidance regarding action to be taken against teachers who, despite having received transfers and being released from their previous schools, had not yet reported for duty at their new workplaces.
The Governor also issued instructions to Zonal Directors of Education on the areas requiring special attention in implementing the school meal program for students.
The Governor observed that the level of interest shown by schools this year in the online educational activities being conducted by Jaffna Hindu College was lower than that seen last year. He therefore instructed the Zonal Directors of Education to provide the necessary guidance to schools within their respective zones and encourage their participation in the program.
Among those who attended the progress review meeting were the Chief Secretary of Northern Province, the Secretary to the Governor, the Secretary to the Provincial Ministry of Education, Deputy Chief Secretaries (Administration, Planning, Finance, and Engineering Services), the Provincial Director of Education – Northern Province, the Provincial Director of Sports, the Assistant Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Director of the Provincial Buildings Department, Zonal Directors of Education, District Sports and Cultural Officers and several other officials.
