The Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) has called on the public to oppose proposed education reforms, warning that the changes threaten Sri Lanka’s free education system and could marginalise students from low-income families.
In a statement issued on Friday, the IUSF alleged that the education reforms being promoted under the National People’s Power (NPP) banner were aligned with policies previously pursued by former leaders Ranil Wickremesinghe and Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The students’ body claimed that the reforms were being introduced under the guise of modernisation and restructuring, but would place Sri Lanka’s education system at risk by encouraging excessive reliance on mobile phones and social media among schoolchildren.
The IUSF also raised concerns over reported foreign-funded components of the reforms, alleging that plans linked to education restructuring involved funding amounting to around USD 200 million.
According to the statement, the proposed reforms could lead to the closure of small rural schools, reductions in textbook provision, and increased barriers to access for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The federation urged the public to reject what it described as “so-called education reforms” and called for broader public debate and transparency before any major changes are implemented in the education sector. (Newswire)
