626 teachers have upgraded their qualifications in the current financial year - Kumar

Minister for Education Premila Kumar says in the current financial year, a total of 626 teachers have upgraded their qualifications and will receive salaries based on the teacher remuneration policy.

While speaking in parliament, Kumar says 109 teachers have upgraded from certificate to diploma, 63 teachers have upgraded from certificate to degree, 434 upgraded from diploma to degree while 20 teachers who only had a bachelors degree without a teacher training qualification have now become qualified teachers.

She says in the current financial year, $911,000 was allocated to upgrade the salaries of 279 teachers which has already been done.

Kumar says the Ministry received a further $1.7 million in the revised budget to upgrade the salaries of 347 teachers.

She adds 230 teachers upgraded their qualification from remote areas, 35 from maritime areas and 361 from urban areas.

The Minister adds there is a shortage of primary school teachers and in this financial year, 337 in-service teachers have completed their degree in primary education.