Over 100 national schools without permanent principals
Principals’ Association says serious leadership vacuum affecting education sector
COLOMBO – More than 100 national schools across Sri Lanka are operating without permanent principals, creating a serious leadership vacuum that is affecting the education sector, the Sri Lanka Graded Principals’ Association (SLPGA) claimed on Monday (27).
Addressing a media briefing in Colombo, SLPGA General Secretary Nimal Mudunkotuwa said the crisis has arisen due to delays and shortcomings in the appointment of principals to national schools.
He said that although a framework had been introduced to appoint officers from the Sri Lanka Education Administrative Service (SLEAS) as principals to 396 national schools, many eligible officers had declined to apply for the positions, leaving a large number of schools without permanent leadership.
Mudunkotuwa alleged that the policy of appointing SLEAS officers to principal posts had deprived career principals of opportunities to head national schools.
He also claimed that certain officials attached to the Principals’ Branch at the Ministry of Education, with the backing of the current administration, had taken steps to retain control over deputy principal appointments in national schools.
“How can schools be developed when they continue to function under acting principals?” he questioned, noting that some centrally administered schools had remained without permanent principals for several years.
He said acting principals often lack the authority and stability needed to implement long-term development plans, resulting in schools relying heavily on old alumni associations and school development societies to sustain operations.
Mudunkotuwa also alleged irregularities in the appointment of deputy principals, claiming that despite an established merit-based selection process, some officials had appointed preferred candidates through unlawful means, including by accepting bribes.
He further alleged that political interference continues to influence appointments to provincial schools.
Referring to the Northern Province, Mudunkotuwa claimed that although interviews had been completed and qualified candidates identified for several senior principal posts, appointments had been delayed following pressure from certain religious groups seeking to influence the selection process.
According to him, the Northern Province’s Education Secretary had suspended several appointments after the interviews, while some groups had insisted that individuals from specific religious backgrounds, rather than officers from the Principals’ Service, be appointed to head certain schools.
He warned that such interference posed a serious threat to the independence of the education system.
Mudunkotuwa said similar controversies over principal appointments had also emerged in the Uva and Eastern Provinces, where political interference had allegedly prevented qualified candidates from being appointed.
Commenting on the recently issued circular for 2027 Grade One admissions, Mudunkotuwa said the decision not to reduce student intake would place additional pressure on schools already struggling with administrative and leadership shortages.
-ENCL
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