– The Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said that a better quality reform will be implemented while listening to the views of suggestions and complaints in the dialogues happening with regard to education reforms and these reforms are not an activity of one party or a group but it is a national endeavor.

The Prime Minister expressed these views while participating in an awareness program held for the educational authorities of the Central Province about new education reforms at Kandy District Secretariat today (31).

Expressing further ideas at this occasion, The Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated like this,

A survey conducted by the Ministry of Education in the year 2024 revealed that when 20,000 students left the school, there is no information about what happened to them. And also 80,000 children attending schools did not come to schools regularly. Three hundred thousand children are admitted to schools annually. Out of them about one hundred and fifty thousand children leave school education in different stages and directed to vocational education or private education. About 40,000 are admitted to government universities. But nobody’s attention has been drawn to what happens to the remaining children and their future. The actions have been taken to change this situation through the new education reforms. 

Within our school education system, the children leaving schools after having 13 years of education are not able to enter the world of employment easily. The education obtained from a school has not been sufficient to go for an employment. Specially this situation has affected our girls. Although the girls have shown better competencies in the schools, the female participation in the job market is 50% less than males.  

Even if they have educational skills, children find it difficult to enter the vocational world. Not only education, there are some more reasons for it. In the same way, the social problems we are facing today are also affecting it. It is also an objective of this education reforms to create a generation who are responsible for the society, law abiding and having empathy, patience and general knowledge for entering an employment within the entire social process. 

We must create a child who can interact and transact specially within the modern technological world and within the fast-changing society. The information is reaching us in an unthinkable speed. But the children must be created to be persons who have the ability to analyze that information and to take a correct idea about the truth or false about them. The future world needs the children with an exploring mind.      

We expect to introduce a system where new selections can be done without restraining to exam results. This is the seventh dialogue we are having at the provincial level, and very important suggestions we received from all those discussions regarding how to improve reforms further. In addition to the officers in the field of education, we are having discussions with the members of parliament, professionals and trade unions. All those suggestions received through those dialogues are very important for us. This is not a responsibility of one political party or a group. This is a national program; therefore, a national consultation must happen. We are ready to listen to the suggestions, complaints and ideas emerging from those discussions and to do positive changes.   

It is not possible to do this only having discussions; it must be started from somewhere. Therefore, we start new education reforms from next year in grade 1 and grade 6, said The Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Madhura Senevirathna, The Deputy Minister of Buddhist, Religious and Cultural Affairs Gamagedara Dissanayaka, The Governor of Central Province Sarath Abeykoon, Members of Parliament, educational authorities including the Secretary of Ministry of Education Nalaka Kaluwewa and officers of the Central Province attended in this event.

Media Unit

The Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, The Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

Since the new education reforms are introduced only to grades 1 and 2 in 2026, the priority will be given to it and do not criticize the 50 minutes periods while remaining in the traditional method of teacher speaking and children listening, said The Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, The Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The Prime Minister stated this at the awareness program held in the Rathnapura District Secretariat today (26) for making the educational authorities of Sabaragamuwa Province aware of new education reforms. 

Further expressing ideas, The Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said these things also.

We do not say the present education system is hundred per cent is wrong because the excellent people were created through it also. But a large number of children become dropouts annually. Nobody cares about them. The new education reforms do an entire restructuring of the system going beyond the curriculum development remained so far.

This system is introduced from 2026 to grades 1 and 6 and the priority will be given for it. Stage by stage the next reforms will be done. The deciding factor in educational performance is the teacher. To solve the problem of teacher shortage, the implementation of correct principle of teacher transfers and the proper distribution of teachers must be done.   

There are schools with less than 10 students in Sabaragamuwa Province. In some schools there are only 5 students per teacher. This situation must be changed. At the moment the ministry is having discussions about the teacher transfers between national schools and provincial schools. Actions will be taken to come to a decision on this in the future.   

It was revealed from a survey conducted by the Ministry of Education that 20,000 children have become dropouts from education and there no information about what happened to them so far. In the same way 80,000 children have not come to schools properly. This is a critical problem.

At present the system of education runs upon the dedication of a small number of people but a system of education cannot be relied on an individual, it must remain strongly as a system.

At the moment, a debate has been coming up about the extending the time of a period up to 50 minutes. Do not go to decide this time of period standing upon the traditional system of teaching. The new reform does not introduce the method of teacher speaking and the children listening. It is a method of engaging students practically.

The module system is introduced not to take patent for Malima government but it is a method used in the world.

The education was used so far by the past governments to propagate their names and the education was further messed up through the admission of children to the schools with the intention of obtaining votes and that situation has already been rectified said The Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

Expressing ideas at this occasion The Deputy Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Dr. Madhura Senevirathna said,

Some people complain that we are doing education reforms for the needs of a certain group of people and do not use the knowledge of experts, but we totally reject it. We are doing this reform according to a national requirement but not upon anybody’s wants. We say with responsibility that there is no such connection between the information they spread on social media and the new education reforms.   

The Provincial Governor Champa Janaki Rajarathna, Members of Parliament including the Chairperson of Rathnapura District Development Committee Shantha Padmakumara, The Secretary of the Ministry of Education Nalaka Kaluwewa, the officers representing the Ministry of Education, National Institute of Education and a large number of education authorities of Sabaragamuwa Province attended this meeting.

Media Unit

– The Minister of Education, higher Education and Vocational Education, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

The Minister of Education, higher Education and Vocational Education, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that it is ready to include the substantial proposals submitted by the student parliament into the new educational reforms and instead of talking about her childhood, actions will be taken to pass on a pleasing childhood to the children.

The Prime Minister expressed this in the morning today (26) after observing the fifth session of the student parliament at Rathnapura Seevalee Central College. 

The theme of “Whether the children who see the world through present school education reforms are ready to overcome the future global challenges?” was taken for debate at the student parliament and at the end of parliamentary session, the certificates were awarded to the children by The Prime Minister.

Further expressing ideas at this occasion, The Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said like this.

The children in student parliament have understood the new education reforms much better than parents. They had analyzed the education reforms very well. You presented in student parliament very efficiently the good, bad and challenges of it. I really suggest you to talk about it and these education reforms cannot be a thing made only by the officers in the ministry or the ministers. This education reform is a thing that should be created collectively by us through a dialogue happening in the country. The younger generation and the students of this country must directly join with it. Therefore, I invite you all to hold a special session of your parliament and take ideas and suggestions of your peer students about real education reforms and send them to us. They are very important for us.

A girl student of the school gave me an environment friendly project plan and that effort is highly valuable.

One speech delivered by a female minister of this student parliament highly impressed me. It said that the elders speaking about the beauty of the childhood destroy their childhood. I decided today not to speak again about my childhood in front of children; in spite of that, take action to pass on a pleasing childhood to the children of this country.

And also, I felt a wonderful happiness and a proud when I saw and heard how you all conducted the student parliament session and how you spoke in it and it generated a confidence about the country with the idea that the future generation is upgraded and they are very clever.

The Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said that she is thankful to the Principal, teachers and the parents for creating such a generation of children.

The Minister of Buddhist Affairs, Religious and Cultural Affairs Hiniduma Sunil Senevi, Sabaragamuwa Provincial Governor Champa Janaki Rajarathna, The Members of Parliament Shantha Padma Kumara, Sunil Rajapaksa, Dr. Janaka, Provincial Directress of Education, Educational authorities in the district, the Principals including the Principal of Seevalee Central College Captain Neel Dhammika Wathukarawaththage, teachers, parents and children had attended this occasion.

Media Unit

– The Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, The Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasooriya.

The Prime Minister said that we are used to measure the education on pass or failure of examination, the module system has been introduced to change that method and the aim of our government is to provide a quality education to the children through that method.

The Prime Minister stated this while participating in the discussion held on 23 rd of July at the Ministry of Education Isurupaya, Battaramulla to sensitize the media personnel about the new education reforms scheduled to be implemented from the year 2026.

The making media personnel from all media institutions aware of the new education reforms scheduled to be implemented from the year 2026 was done by the Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa and the Deputy Director of National Institute of Education Dr. Darshana Samaraweera.

At this occasion, answering the questions raised by the media men, The Prime Minister said,

“We are used to a system of education in which teachers, parents as well as children get ready for an examination. But in this modular system children are directed to learn through various activities. 

According to new syllabus, the G.C.E. Ordinary Level Examination is scheduled to be held in 2029. Since 2026 we implement this in grades 1 and 6 only. We have 03 years’ time to observe this system. We can do necessary changes of this system along with the situations and requirements we face during this process. We have not said anywhere that these reforms are final and conclusive. We hope to change it appropriately. In the same way you also can submit your views and suggestions.    

It is necessary to reduce the number of students to 25 – 30 within a classroom. At the moment there are classrooms exceeding 40 students. It happens because of the admissions done upon the recommendations given by the Minister of Education and the Secretary saying to admit exceeding the approved number. That system has completely stopped by our government. Therefore, in the future, only the approved number of students will be admitted to the schools. 

In the same way we have not taken a decision yet to abolish the grade five scholarship. To do such a thing, the inequality among schools must be ended. That is not a thing that we can do at once. We hope in these reforms to reduce the oppressive burden of education system happening to the students because of the scholarship examination. 

Under these reforms we have proposed to do the complete observation of maintaining the early childhood development centers and the training of those teachers through the Ministry of Education.” said the Prime Minister.

Expressing ideas at this occasion The Deputy Minister of Education Madhura Senevirathna said,

“We have drawn a special attention to teacher training here. The teacher training has also been included in the five pillars we have submitted. The teacher training program scheduled to be commenced in next August has already been prepared.”

The preparations have already been done to hold several awareness meetings in the future for university lecturers, teachers’ unions and the heads of education.

Media Unit  

An awareness meeting for the Members of Parliament about the proposed new education reforms was held today (22) at the parliamentary premises with the participation of The Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasooriya.

Expressing views at this occasion Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasooriya said,

There has been a high enthusiasm as well as a considerable debate in the society over the proposed new education reforms that have been planning for the implementation by our government. It is very important to have a social dialogue about this nationally important program.  

Therefore, with the realization of the necessity of you all as Members of Parliament to work with correct understanding about the proposed new education reforms, today this meeting is held as one step of making you aware of this and obtaining your suggestions and views on this program.  

We are ready to listen to your views and suggestions about new education reforms after providing a detailed document prepared about proposed new education reforms to you and also making you aware of new education reforms, said The Prime Minister.  

After the Prime Minister’s explanation of basic facts, The Deputy Director of National Institute of Education Dr. Darshana Samaraweera provided a detailed audio-visual presentation to the members of parliament who had attended the meeting. 

After that, several government and opposition members of parliament including The Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, Sivagnanam Sridharan, Ajith P. Perera, Rohini Kawirathna, Dr. Harsha De Silva and Dayasiri Jayasekara presented their ideas and the government and opposition members of parliament said that doing an education reform is a contemporary requirement and their support is extended to the positive factors of the education reforms that the present government is preparing to introduce.   

The majority of the members of parliament drew their attention mainly to the necessity of drawing more attention to areas like using English language as a medium, expansion of English language and provision of maximum human resources necessary for education. The answers for their questions on education reforms were provided by The Prime Minister, The Secretary of the Ministry of Education and the Deputy Director of National Institute of Education.  

Further expressing the ideas, The Prime Minister said,

The revision of curricula and the education reform is not one and the same thing but two separate things and the Prime Minister pointed out that this time it is a changing of present education system itself and it is a process scheduled to be done in step by step within a considerable expansion of time very carefully but not in a hurry.

The first stage of this will be implemented in 2026 for the students in grade one and grade six and considering the responses received from it, the process will be continued doing necessary changes. The Prime Minister further pointed out that the new education reforms are implemented in a new approach in comparison to the former education reforms and the proposed education reform process is based on a five pillars namely, curriculum development, human resource development, infrastructure in the field of education, reforms in the education administrative structure, evaluation and assessment process and propaganda and sensitizing people.      

The Prime Minister listened carefully to all the presentations and raised questions of all government and opposition members of parliaments and provided proper answers and said that this kind of sensitizations will be done in the future also and her attention will be drawn to the suggestions and views presented by members of parliament and expressed her thanks for providing those particulars. 

The Members of parliament representing the government and the opposition, the secretary to the Prime Minister Mr. Pradeep Saputhanthri, the secretary of the Ministry of Education Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa and a team of officers from National Institute of Education attended this meeting.

Media Unit 

– The Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasooriya

The Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, The Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasooriya stated in the parliament on the 09 th of July that it is scheduled to amend the curriculum for the improvement of technological and vocational education within school education system under new educational reforms in 2026.

Under these new revisions it is scheduled to introduce vocational subject streams for grades 10 and 11 and these vocational subjects will be introduced for grades 10 and 11 as a group subject, accordingly the students will be able to obtain the NVQ 4 certificate after studying vocational subject for four school years from grade 10. 

The development of curriculum and modules for this purpose is being done by the National Institute of Education at the moment and through this it is expected to increase the current number of schools 609 where advanced level vocational subjects are taught, up to 1000, the Minister said.  

An initial draft is being prepared while holding meetings with all partners related to that field with the assistance of Asian Development Bank in relation to that section to prepare a strategic plan for the purpose of improving the field of technological and vocational education after school education and by the coming September the complete draft will be submitted, the Minister said.  

Under that plan for the purpose of teacher training and infrastructure development for the field of technological and vocational education, the actions will be taken to recruit new teachers and train them through teachers’ colleges to teach vocational subjects in grades 10 and 11. 

The Minister stated in the parliament that it is scheduled to implement a series of teacher capacity building programs annually within the next five years for the teachers who have already been appointed to teach vocational subject streams, providing them with contemporary trends and experiences in various vocational fields with the assistance from the field of industries and the vocational subject stream will be reviewed again according to the current trends in the same subject field and to finish the inclusion of necessary changes in subject modules within the years 2026 and 2027.

Media Unit    

A discussion was held between the new staff of the National Education Commission and The Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasooriya at the National Education Commission.

Here the new staff was introduced and The Prime Minister explained the process that is being implemented for new education reforms.

The Prime Minister said at this occasion that it is ready to start the new education reforms from 2026 and for that purpose the institutions coming under the Ministry of Education must work together according to a proper methodology.

At this occasion it was discussed lengthily about the role of National Education Commission in the implementation process of new education reforms. The Minister explained the matters related to the issues remaining in the commission and the tasks to be done in the future.

The Minister said that when the education reforms are implemented, doing surveys on schools and the monitoring will lie with the National Education Commission and when the new education policies are put into action strongly, the Ministry of Education, the National Institute of Education and the National Education Commission must work together. 

The secretary of the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Nalaka Kaluwewa, the Chairperson of National Education Commission Professor A. Sarath Ananda, the Vice Chairperson Thilak Dharmarathna and the officers of the commission attended this occasion. 

A discussion about the necessary steps to be taken for the declaration of necessary guidelines in August this year with regard to new educational transformations scheduled to be implemented from 2026 and the teacher training for that purpose, was held at the National Institute of Education with the participation of The Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasooriya . 

The Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasooriya said that the new syllabuses for grades 1 and 6 will be introduced from the year 2026 and it is scheduled to introduce the new syllabus for grade 10 in 2028 and the actions will be taken to hold ordinary level examination in 2029 depending on the new syllabus and also it is scheduled to introduce the vocational education from grade 9. At this occasion the heads of each section of the National Institute of Education made the Minister aware of the way of implementing the relevant process in relation to this new education reforms by their respective sections and the current situation of them.   

The Prime Minister pointed out at this occasion that this is an educational reformation executed upon 05 pillars namely, revision of new syllabuses, teacher training, administration and provision of infra-structure facilities, creating a proper evaluation process and obtaining the public assistance for this purpose and she pointed out that it is the responsibility of National Institute of Education to create teachers rich in good attitudes. Furthermore, the Prime Minister instructed the officers not to stop with these reforms but to take action for supervising how it is being implemented and to create a formal evaluation process.

The secretary of the Ministry of Education Mr. Nalaka Kaluwewa, The Director General of National Institute of Education Professor Manjula Withanapathirana and all sectional heads of that institution participated in this discussion.