One of the leading teachers’ unions of the island has expressed strong opposition to the Ministry of Defense’s plan to establish a ‘new social intelligence unit’ involving the students by bringing the police into schools, although they have failed to prevent the flow of drugs across the country.
The teachers union said that if the government has an honest intention to prevent the use of drugs among the school children then they must first stop the flow of drugs in the country.
” If the government has an honest desire to stop the use of drugs in the school system then they must first find a mechanism to stop the flow of such drugs into the schools. But still, they have failed to find such a mechanism. And have failed to prevent such drugs from coming into the country. When the situation is like that they try to catch the result. That is why we are clearly against bringing new laws and doing these activities through this school system.”
The general secretary of the teachers Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU), Joseph Stalin called a press conference in Colombo on November 8 and stated that after State Minister for Defense Pramita Bandara Tennakon revealed that a new social intelligence unit had been established jointly with the National Intelligence Unit and its activities have already started.
Minister of State for Defense Pramita Bandara Tennakon, while participating as the chief guest at the National Cadet Corps Annual Herman Luce and De Zoisa Championship – 2023 Dispersal Parade held at the National Cadet Corps Training Center in Rantambe, had further said that in order to curb various acts of misbehavior in the school system necessary measures will be taken through the new intelligence division.
“We have decided to form a social intelligence unit together with the National Intelligence Unit and the National Cadet Corps this year. We started that program this year. So that we will be able to use this intelligence to reduce and eliminate the misdeeds and drug menace in schools as well as eradicate them from the beginning. Also, a national program was started to produce national heroes from the youth.”
The leader of the CTU emphasizes that if there is an increase in the use of drugs in schools, the education authorities should take necessary measures. He further pointed out that security forces have duties outside the school.
” If there is an increase in the use of drugs among school children it’s the education ministry that needs to take steps towards preventing it. The police and the security forces have activities outside the school. It is necessary to take measures to prevent them from bringing these things into the school and from bringing them into the country.”
However, the leader of the CTU expressed doubts about whether there is another purpose behind this action of the government.
“It’s ridiculous If the police or the army intervenes to prevent the use of drugs by getting into the school system. We have to say that it looks like they are trying to do something else through this.”
The news published by a mainstream English newspaper that the Ceylon Teachers’ Association has approved the social intelligence unit established by the government in association with the National Cadet Force has now been removed from the internet.