Education reforms: People’s Struggle Alliance (PSA) writes to Prime Minister
- Seeks proper, clear official public doc. for discussion/debate
- PM invites all MPs to submit ideas to Edu. Reforms Sub-Comm.
- The public will also be given opportunity for suggestions/views
- Special provincial-level awareness campaign also to be held
The People’s Struggle Alliance (PSA) party has written to Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya seeking the presentation of a proper, clear official document to the public on the proposed new educational reforms to be implemented in the school education system.
“The current National People’s Power (NPP) administration is going to carry out these reforms based on a PowerPoint presentation prepared only in English. Such a document has not been presented to the Parliament. What is the basis of these education reforms and who prepared it? In whose interests are these educational reforms being hidden from the general public? Is it in the interests of retaining a loan from the World Bank? Why are you planning to implement this so suddenly next year (in 2026), without allowing for broad public debate?
“The strong suspicion that the ‘The National Education Policy Framework’ which was initiated by the then Education Minister of the United National Front for Good Governance Government, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam in 2018, and later presented under the name of the Upali Sedara Report (2021), during President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s tenure, and presented after 2022 during the tenure of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, as an extension of the above process, is the foundational document of the education reforms presented by the NPP Government, cannot be dismissed.
“The Committee that prepared that report consisted of notorious businessmen. Serious reform of the education system is needed. However, this must be done whilst protecting the foundations of free education, compulsory education up to the age of 16, and a strong academic education. New education reforms are needed to address the problems faced by the current education system, including the inadequacy and uneven provision of funds, the disparity in the school system which has resulted in parents having to bear a large financial burden, the dominance of private tuition classes, the unhealthy balance between life and education, the prevalence of an exam-centric education system, and the frustration and pressure felt by students.
“However, when we look at the incomplete PowerPoint presentation related to the above education reforms, it is clear that instead of addressing those problems, there is a desire to cut education ‘per unit’ costs (shutting down of schools which have few students), further increasing the burden on parents, and narrowing down the curriculum to churn out skilled workers needed for the existing market. First, the overall education reform proposal should be placed before the country, and you must provide sufficient time for public discussion and debate. This should not be implemented based on an arbitrary decision,” the letter read.
Meanwhile, Dr. Amarasuriya stated that the Sub-Committee on Education Reforms under the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, will be open to all Parliamentarians to submit their ideas and proposals regarding education reforms. She also emphasised that after the Subcommittee discusses the report being prepared by the ministry on education reforms, the general public will also be given an opportunity to submit their views and suggestions. These remarks were made during the first meeting of the Education Reform Subcommittee, held on Tuesday (5), chaired by the Premier, in the Parliament. She also highlighted that preparations are actively underway to introduce a new curriculum for Grades One and Six by 2026.
MPs who participated in the meeting pointed out the need to provide the public with a clear understanding of the reforms. Responding to this, Dr. Amarasuriya stated that a special public awareness campaign has already been planned. She further explained that education officials in eight provinces have been briefed, and that arrangements are in place to conduct awareness programs in the remaining Uva Province soon.
