Teachers’ unions criticized the government’s newly launched education reform program, calling it flawed, poorly planned and rushed, despite officials formally initiating the reforms earlier in the day.
Union leaders said key resources required to implement the changes, including teachers’ guides, have not yet been issued, raising concerns about how educators are expected to deliver lessons under the new framework.
The unions urged the government and the education minister to halt the rapid rollout and instead conduct proper planning before executing the reforms nationwide.
Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) Secretary Joseph Stalin warned that the reforms could widen inequalities between urban and rural schools.
He pointed to the new Grade One textbook, which reportedly contains 42 QR codes intended to support digital learning. “How are children in rural schools expected to access these facilities when internet connectivity and digital devices are either unavailable or very poor?” Stalin asked.
He also questioned the long-term vision of the reforms, stating that even policymakers have not clearly defined what academic or developmental outcomes students are expected to achieve by the time they reach Grade 13.
According to Stalin, teacher preparedness remains a major concern. He said educators assigned to teach under the new system have received training only for the first school term, while instructional materials remain incomplete.
“Teachers do not even have a proper printed teachers’ guide,” he said, adding that the guide is currently available only online, further complicating access for schools with limited digital infrastructure. (Newswire)