Only 124 candidates out of the 1,424 applicants for Heads of Schools positions met the benchmark for interviews – Education Minister

Minister for Education, Premila Kumar has revealed that out of the 1,424 applications for positions of Heads of Schools in the country, only 408 applicants met the Minimum Qualification Requirements and sat for the job test at the FNU computer labs in the Central, Western and Northern Divisions in December last year.

While answering a question in parliament by SODELPA MP, Aseri Radrodro on the current status of the job test for Heads of Schools, Kumar also confirmed that out of the 408 applicants who did the job test, only 124 candidates met the benchmark so interviews will only be conducted for these 124 candidates.

Kumar says the Job Evaluation Exercise for the Ministry of Education’s teaching positions were carried out as part of the government’s evaluation exercise where teaching positions were evaluated and respective salary bands were assigned.

She says the Job Evaluation Exercise was designed to ensure the teachers were paid in accordance with the work that they do in schools.

Kumar says all positions during this period were evaluated and a band was assigned to a post

The Education Minister says Heads of Schools transitioned to respective bands J, K and L based on the size of schools.

Kumar confirms these positions require postgraduate qualifications.

She also says following the Job Evaluation Exercise, the revised Minimum Qualification Requirements were created, and the qualification requirement for the small, medium and large schools were same except the experience that was clearly defined.

Kumar says prior to the Job Evaluation Exercise, a 5 year experience was required for leadership role immaterial whether the school was small, medium or large but now the experience has changed.

For small schools, 5 years teaching experience and 3 years experience in educational leadership is required, for medium schools, 7 years teaching experience and at least 5 years educational leadership is required while for large schools 10 years teaching experience and at least 5 years educational leadership experience is required.