By Newswire Editorial
The government will introduce entrepreneurship and financial literacy to the Grade 6 curriculum from 2027, as part of its education reforms aimed at improving financial awareness and protecting young people from financial fraud.
Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Harini Amarasuriya announced the move during an event held at the Education Ministry premises in Isurupaya on Tuesday (10).
According to the Education Ministry, the initiative aims to strengthen the national economy by encouraging greater public participation in economic activities while equipping students with essential financial knowledge and skills.
The Prime Minister said commerce education, which had previously been largely limited to the Ordinary Level and Advanced Level commerce streams, would be introduced from Grade 6 as a broader life skill.
She emphasised that improving financial literacy at the national level is essential to protecting the public, particularly the younger generation, from financial fraud.
Meanwhile, the government has also launched a programme to establish 100 activity-based commerce learning centres across the country in three phases between 2026 and 2028.
Under the first phase, 25 centres covering all 25 districts are scheduled to be established this year, with the aim of making commerce education more practical and activity-based.
The Prime Minister further stated that while the government’s objective is not to turn everyone into entrepreneurs, encouraging greater participation in economic activities is essential to strengthening a production-based economy.
She also stressed the importance of developing entrepreneurs who prioritise environmental protection, social responsibility and humanitarian values rather than focusing solely on profits.
The announcement was made during a ceremony to recognise the winners of the All-Island Commerce Knowledge Quiz and Entrepreneurship Skills Competition, where awards and certificates were presented to students.
Several supplementary learning guides and modules introducing new teaching methodologies for commerce education were also launched at the event. (Newswire)