Susil Premajayantha, the minister of education, has submitted two suggestions, and the Cabinet of Ministers has given its approval.
As a result, the Cabinet has given its permission for the establishment of a student loan facility with discounted interest rates for students enrolled in National Colleges of Education. For students who have completed the G.C.E. (A/L) test, National Colleges of Education provide teacher preparation programs that include two years of institutional training and one year of internship.
The National College of Education pays a teacher trainee Rs. 5,000 for the training time, which is insufficient. For this one-year internship, colleges of education do not offer housing; as a result, trainees are responsible for covering all related costs, including lodging and travel. The proposal to pay a trainee an additional financial allowance of up to Rs. 10,000 per month through a state bank at discounted interest rates, on top of the allowance already paid, was accepted by ministers.
