Unnecessary Interventions By A SLMC Politician Into Eastern Province Education Sector

A SLMC provincial politician has been making unnecessary interventions into the education sector of the Eastern province that has prompted a group of residents from Akkaraipattu to write to the Education Ministry Secretary concerning his influences and harassments.

SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem

In their letter they have pointed out that although the intimidations and interruptions of zonal education officials existed during the previous regime, the situation has taken a turn for the worse since the regime change.

They have particularly noted SLMC Provincial Council member Thavam and his henchmen who have engaged in unethical operations, intimidations and of their illegal involvements and influences that have resulted in a blow to the people’s hope of good governance.

The complainants have stated that this politician and his henchmen are heavily interfering with the work of the Akkaraipattu zonal education office and are intimidating the officers to implement the whims and fancies of Thavam.

They claim this politician has demanded a list of teachers who are due to be transferred, has omitted names from the list according to his wishes, cancelled all transfers of female teachers who were his batch-mates, compelled the office to transfer teachers who support his political opponents, threatened zonal education offices including the Director and has pressurized the Director into inviting him for office events and meetings.

We publish below the letter in full;

Mr. N.A.A.Pushpakumara.
Secretary,
Ministry of Education,
Orr’s Hills,
Trincomalee.

Dear Sir,
May Peace and Blessing of Almighty Allah, be on you.

First and foremost we are sorry for taking your valuable time. And also being anonymous.

We write to inform you about the local politicians who interrupt and intimidate the zonal education officials.

In the previous regime there was also some political influences which heavily disturbed us and we were able to put our pressure to eliminate the influences to a satisfactory level. But we see, dealing with the current situation seems detrimental.

Initially we thought of writing to Dailymirror and Virakesari, but some of our colleagues did not like the idea and said to write authorities which we found to be more appropriate and effective.

We, a group of educated people from Akkaraipattu, does not involve in active politics. As you know, unfortunately, the current political culture of our beloved country is still in the sickening state. However the recent change in the regime has given us the hope of ‘Good Governance’. It is a newborn baby and now it is in its infancy. Like other ‘Country Loving Citizens’ we also adore to support towards good governance and to see it grows healthier and stronger.

In this context, the local politicians’ (Notably and specifically Mr Thavam, SLMC PC Member and his henchmen) unethical behaviours, intimidation and illegal involvements and influences have put the people’s long waited hope of good governance into a hopeless one.

However we are, indeed, not bother about the way the politicians do their politics in Akkaraipattu and also we are certainly not interested in their involvement in any government institutions but the EDUCATION SECTOR.

Mr Tavam, the SLMC PC member and his hooligans, involve heavily in the Zonal Education Office in Akkaraipattu and intimidating the officers to bring them into Mr Thavam’s wishes, which has put the day to day work of the office in a chaotic situation. The amount of pressure, of Mr Thavam and the hooligans, is very high and it has put the zonal education authorities to unwillingly take unfair decisions in some of their official matters.

Accordingly the recent infamous ‘Teachers Transfer’ of Akkaraipattu Zone, specially the Muslim ladies teachers’ transfer has been made an ugly issue by Mr Thavam and his henchmen.

Through such intimidation;

-He demands the list of teachers who are to be transferred.
-He cuts and chops the names as he wishes.
-He has also ordered the Zonal office to cancel all the transfers of the ‘Ladies Teachers’ who were his batch-mates.
-He has compelled the office to transfer the teachers who are the supporters of his political opponent.
-We hear recently he has sent a warning SMS to the ZDE about his position if he doesn’t dance according to his tune.
-He also pressurising the ZDE office to invite him as a chief guest in their events and meetings.

The reason for the recent intimidation of Mr Thavam is that:
1) SLMC leader is a powerful minister 2) Eastern Provincial Director of Education, Mr Nizam’s brother is a general secretary of SLMC and a minister.
3) We don’t know Mr Nizam’s position on this political influence. However the pressure of his brother and the leader of SLMC might have put him into an awkward position and cornered him to obey the wishes of the SLMC.

We do know that the Muslim Teachers’ transfer has become a nightmare to your administration. We apologise on behalf of the Muslim community for this nature.

However with the same breath we would strongly support your stern action and position in transferring the Muslim teachers as you planned; whether they are males or females.

We will be with you and we strongly believe under this good governance no politician dare to poke their nose into your administration.

Therefore Sir, Please do the needful.

The above points are the key ones we have mentioned here. The same undesirable situation may prevails in other part of the eastern province but this certainly need a permanent fix.

Let us all educate ‘Good Governance’ for which we start it from Education.

If you ask the ZDE or other authorities, about the above said facts we are sure that they will hesitate to reveal everything as the government authorities have been put in a situation that they fear to open their mouth fearing consequences.

We have copied this mail to the Governor with the simple intention of making the governor knows the issue.

We think it is worth to note that Akkaraipattu students have excelled nationally in education and cultural events. And also have proved to be one of the outstanding schools and students in the region.

We fear the political influences would definitely deteriorate all the future achievements and endeavours of the students.

Thank you
God bless you all

The Learnered Society of Akkaraipattu