The Government of China will provide school uniforms to 4.3 million children in Sri Lanka for the academic year 2025, as a grant. 

According to the Education Ministry, the grant has been provided following Education Minister Susil Premajayantha’s discussions with the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka and relevant Chinese authorities.

As such, uniforms will be provided to 4.3 million schoolchildren and robes required for 825 piriven schools for the year 2025.

The Chinese Government has confirmed that the first batch of uniforms will arrive on 13 November 2024, while the second batch will arrive on 21 November, and the third batch will be provided on 20 December.

The Education Ministry says as the uniforms will be provided 100% free of charge, the Sri Lankan Government will save Rs. 7000 million. 

The ministry further said that the school uniforms would be distributed before 20 January 2025, before the commencement of the first academic term. (Newswire)

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The ill-timed decision of some to not extend support for the President has worked in favour of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha said.

The minister was referring to the announcement of the President contesting independently as a national candidate, while the Rajapaksa-led SLPP announced it would field its own candidate

Minister Premajayantha said the 2022 ‘Aragalaya’ reached the international level and went strongly against the Rajapaksas, which has now worked in favour of the President. 

The mass protests against the Rajapaksa regime caused many to rethink their allegiance, he said. 

Minister Susil Premajayantha said these incidents have worked positively for President Ranil Wickremesinghe ahead of the Presidential Election. (Newswire)

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The results of the 2023 (2024) GCE Ordinary Level Examinations are expected to be released in September this year, Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha said. 

The Education Minister said that the papermarking of practical tests is in the final week and once completed, the checking of answer scripts will be completed.

He said, hence, the Department of Examinations intends to release the results of the examination in September. 

Minister Premajayantha further said that the Education Ministry hopes to conduct the GCE Ordinary Level Examination during the first two months of 2025.

He went on to note that the GCE Advanced Level Examinations can also be moved up next year, which will help normalise the examination timeframe in the future.

Minister Susil Premajayantha expressed these views while addressing a public event on Tuesday. (Newswire)

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The Education Ministry is actively working to address two key issues affecting the teaching profession in the education sector, Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha said. 

The Education Minister said as part of this effort, the ministry will conduct a review of these issues and resolve them, enabling timely salary increments. 

“The Secretary of the Public Service Commission has agreed to expedite this process, and after receiving the necessary directives from the Ministry, we will forward them to provincial authorities by next Wednesday,” he added.

Minister Susil Premajayantha further stated that despite economic challenges, the government has successfully addressed the teacher shortage by deploying 16,000 teachers at both the national and provincial levels.

Addressing a press briefing at the Presidential Media Centre on Monday, the Education Minister outlined seven recent measures taken by the Education Ministry;

• The Chinese government has confirmed that it will provide 100% of the school uniforms for Sri Lankan school students in 2025. The distribution of school books for 2025 to local stores will commence today. 
• Arrangements are made to provide lunch for all schools, except for the main national schools, benefiting 1.7 million students.
• The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is set to provide USD 85 billion to Ocean University.
• Development activities at other universities, which were halted due to a lack of foreign aid, have also resumed. This is crucial for both the university system and the construction industry.
• The appointment of about 16,000 teachers at both national and provincial levels has been facilitated during this period, despite economic difficulties. This has helped to effectively address the teacher shortage.
• Arrangements are made to provide 2,700 high-tech Smart Boards to schools, with the goal of digitizing the entire school network. 
• The Asian Development Bank plans to provide USD 400 million for teacher training. (Newswire)

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Announcing several reforms in the local school curriculum, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said that 30% of the marks of the Grade 5 scholarship examination will be derived from the classroom work in the 4th and 5th grades. 

Premajayantha said that the scholarship examination and evaluation of children’s education cannot continue in its present form. 

The Minister highlighted that at least 30% of the exam marks should be earned over two years, with necessary evaluations conducted by teachers. 

The Minister revealed this addressing a school event in Naththandiya.

Premajayantha also said that moves are underway to provide 2,500 smart boards to all the leading schools in the country between August and September this year, under the first phase of the programme. (Newswire)

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Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said that prompt measures will be taken to provide textbooks to students in flood-hit areas within the next two weeks.

Addressing Parliament, the Minister responded to concerns raised by MP S.M. Marikkar regarding the plight of school students in Kolonnawa and Kelanimulla areas who have lost their textbooks due to recent flooding.

“Within the next two weeks, I will be formulating a programme with the Ministry to assist the students who have lost their school textbooks to floods,” Minister Premajayantha stated. (Newswire)

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Academic activities will immediately commence following the conclusion of the GCE Ordinary Level Examinations this year for students wishing to pursue the Advanced Level, Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha said. 

Minister Premajayantha said that the measures are being taken as part of the Education Ministry’s efforts to cover the school academic syllabus that had been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He further said that it was also part of the Ministry’s measures to normalise the timeframe of state school examinations, such as the GCE Ordinary and Advanced Level Examinations in the future. 

The Education Minister added that such steps were also being taken to prevent delays in university admissions for school children. (Newswire)

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The re-scrutinized results of the 2022 (2023) GCE Ordinary Level examination will be released in May, Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha announced today.

Addressing the Parliament, Minister Premajayantha said the re-scrutinized results will be issued prior to the commencement of the 2023(2024) Ordinary Level examinations. 

The Education Minister said that the GCE Ordinary Level examination 2023(2024) is scheduled to be held in the second week of May.

He further said that the re-scrutinized results of the 2022(2023) examination will be released before this year’s examination.

Minister Premajayantha added that the Examination Department has confirmed this timeframe. (Newswire)

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Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha has undertaken an observation tour of the University of Illinois in Chicago, USA.

During his visit, the minister visited the medical and robotic surgery laboratories of the world’s second-largest medical school owned by the health and science department of the university.

Minister Premajayantha also paid attention to the oldest school pharmacy and modern testing laboratories located at the university.

The Education Minister is reported to have requested to provide the modern technical methods used by the university to the university students in Sri Lanka.

During the visit, the minister announced that a memorandum of understanding was signed between the University of Peradeniya and the University of Illinois to establish a collaborative exchange program in the fields of education and research.

Commenting on the MoU, Minister Premajayantha said that it will provide the opportunity for Sri Lankan students to study new learning methods. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Education has announced the tentative frameworks related to state examinations. 

Issuing a statement, the Education Ministry said measures are being taken to release the results of the 2023 GCE Advanced Level Examinations at the beginning of May 2024.

The ministry further said that steps are being taken to conduct the 2023 GCE Ordinary Level Examinations in mid-May this year. 

The Education Ministry revealed that the timetable for the said examination has already been prepared. (NewsWire)

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The Gazette notification on the acceptance of applications for 2,535 teaching assistants for estate sector schools will be issued in the next few weeks, Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha said.

Minister Premajayantha said it is expected to provide appointments, preliminary training, and postings at schools by May this year.

Stating that there was a severe shortage of teachers at estate sector schools, he said there are very few students who qualify for college and there are only a handful of graduates.

The Education Minister said that as a solution, relevant provincial officials have been instructed to provide appointments to graduates from the Uva and Central provinces as a preliminary measure. (NewsWire)

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Sri Lanka’s Education Ministry is taking steps to provide vouchers for the purchase of sanitary napkins for school girls facing challenges in obtaining basic sanitation facilities.

Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha said that the vouchers to purchase sanitary napkins will be provided following the April New Year this year, with an aim to increase the hygiene habits of school girls. 

Minister Premajayantha further said that steps will be taken to distribute sanitary napkins to nearly 800,000 school girls in difficult, extremely difficult, and isolated areas and in schools with identified poverty.

The vouchers are expected to be provided by the government at a total cost of Rs. one billion with the value of one voucher card being about Rs. 1200.

A Cabinet paper in this regard has already been submitted for Cabinet approval, the minister said. 

Minister Premajayantha added that this program aimed to provide support to girls from economically disadvantaged families by strengthening the health and hygiene habits of school children. (NewsWire)

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The Ministry of Education says arrangements have been made to revise the IT curriculum in state schools. 

Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha announced that the pilot project in this regard will be launched on March 19, 2024.

He further said that under the pilot project, steps have been taken to introduce Information Technology, including Artificial Intelligence, in the education system of state schools from Grades 08 to 13.

Minister Premajayantha said that Microsoft has partnered with the ministry to provide the necessary assistance in this regard.

He pointed out that the introduction of the new IT Curriculum will enable imparting the subject knowledge according to international standards.

“When making changes in the field of education, it is essential to provide children with modern technical knowledge. Especially in the fields of Nano Technology, Biotechnology, genetic Engineering, and Artificial Intelligence,” the Education Minister added. (NewsWire)

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The islandwide programme to provide training in English, IT and guidance to students who sat for the GCE Advanced Level Examination this year (2024) was launched today. 

According to the Ministry of Education, 25,000 students who sat for the GCE Advanced Level Examination this year have registered for the programme. 

The Ministry further said that the training programmes will be conducted in 300 centres located islandwide from today.

The programme was launched at the Central Maha Vidyalaya in Maharagama under the auspices of Education Minister Susil Premajayantha. 

The Education Ministry said that the training programmes will be completed before the commencement of the GCE Ordinary Level Examinations. 

Steps are also being taken to introduce the training programmes to students who sit for the GCE Ordinary Level Examination this year, the ministry added. (NewsWire)

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The Ministry of Education has decided to cut down the number of subjects for the GCE Ordinary Level Examination to seven subjects, Minister Susil Premajayantha announced.

According to an Education Ministry statement, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said that steps will be taken to evaluate the industry and environmental knowledge that can be provided to the students locally for the remaining three subjects.

The decision has been taken to ensure that no student fails the GCE Ordinary Level Examination and they are provided with the opportunity to receive professional training in the subject areas of their interest and skills in the GCE Advanced Level stream, he said.

Minister Susil Premajayantha further said that steps have also been taken to provide training in English, IT and guidance to 50,000 students out of the  3,370,000 students who sat for the GCE Advanced Level Examination this year.

The Education Minister added that the training programmes will be conducted in 300 centres located islandwide from tomorrow (Mar 05). (NewsWire)

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Minister of Education, Susil Premajayantha has outlined the various measures being taken concerning the Education Sector including school state examinations, teacher recruitments, and a pilot project for digitizing education.

Minister Premajayantha also announced the initiation of a pilot project for digitizing education scheduled to commence in March. 

Preparations are underway to commence the pilot project with support from Microsoft for training teachers for the said purpose, he said.

The minister also confirmed the dispatch of school textbooks for the year 2024 for distribution.

These remarks were made during his address at a press briefing held at the Presidential Media Center on Monday (Feb 19).

The following are the measures outlined by the Education Minister;

• GCE Advanced Level Examinations

Efforts are underway to prepare school timetables and term notes for the current year. The Minister affirmed that arrangements are being made to conduct the G.C.E. Advanced level examination as scheduled by the end of the year. Schools will receive detailed instructions regarding these activities via a circular within the next two to three weeks, ensuring smooth implementation.

Furthermore, plans have been put in place to launch career and technology guidance courses from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. across 300 centres nationwide, coinciding with the release of Advanced Level examination results.

• Issues related to state schools

All school textbooks pertinent to the year 2024 have been dispatched to distribution stations, ensuring complete coverage. Plans are in place to finalize their distribution at the school level by the first of March, with an expenditure totalling Rs. 12,000 million allocated for this purpose.

The Education Minister highlighted the collaboration with the Chinese government, which has facilitated the acquisition of 80% of the required material for school children’s uniforms, amounting to Rs. 05 billion. Distribution of these materials is currently underway, with the remaining 20% expected to arrive imminently.

A budget allocation of Rs. 16 billion has been earmarked for school lunches, complemented by agreements signed with USAID to provide meals to 200,000 children.

Various individuals have also raised concerns about children’s absence from school, citing data from the Ministry of Health indicating a decrease in school enrolments due to a decline in the birth rate, amounting to 0.17%. This trend highlights a significant factor contributing to the issue.

Moreover, initiatives have commenced to engage parents through class meetings aimed at offering guidance. These consultations focus on raising awareness and ensuring protection, covering topics such as road safety, drug prevention, and safeguarding against various forms of abuse.

• Teacher shortage & recruitment

The Minister of Education addressed the shortage of teachers, attributing it to legal proceedings. One such case involves a restraining order halting teacher recruitment, resulting in a delay of up to 10 months in filling vacancies. Should the court decide within the next two weeks, there is optimism for expedited resolution and swift filling of the 20,000 teacher vacancies, significantly impacting children’s education.

There are 13,500 provincial-level teacher vacancies due to educators leaving the service and relocating abroad. Legal proceedings, however, have impeded recruitment efforts, with a case filed in the Court of Appeal regarding these vacancies. Pending a court decision, authorities express readiness to swiftly address the issue and proceed with necessary recruitments.

As per the teachers’ service constitution, examinations for science and technology level vacancies are scheduled for the first week of March, with recruitment expected to conclude by the end of the month. (NewsWire)

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The results of the 2023 GCE Advanced Level Examination will be released before the conducting of the next GCE Ordinary Level examination, Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha announced today. 

Minister Premajayantha said that the marking of the answer scripts of the 2023 GCE Advanced Level Examination is expected to conclude by the end of February this year.

He further said that the Department of Examinations hopes to release the 2023 Advanced Level Examination results before the commencement of the 2023 Ordinary Level examination.

Earlier today, Minister Premajayantha announced that the Education Ministry hopes to conduct the 2023 GCE Ordinary Level examination from May to June this year.

He further announced that the 2024 GCE Advanced Level examination will be held in December this year. (NewsWire)

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The State Printing Corporation of Sri Lanka has been converted into a profit-making entity earning a revenue of Rs. 2000 million within the last 18 months, Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha said. 

Addressing an event at the State Printing Corporation on Monday (Jan 22), Minister Premajayantha said this was achieved after he had assumed duties as the Minister of Education. 

He further said that the state entity has now developed to the level of building its working capital and also paying employee bonuses.

“It is gratifying to be able to turn the State Printing Statutory Corporation, which was recognized as a loss-making entity into the register of the State-Owned Enterprise Restructuring Unit, into a profitable state within a very short period of time,” the minister said.

The Education Minister further said that this progress was easily achieved by making necessary changes to the top management and assigning responsibilities properly. (NewsWire)

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Plans are underway for India’s top-ranked engineering institute, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), to open a branch campus in Kandy, Sri Lanka this year, it was reported. 

According to Daily News, the move is part of the ongoing expansion of IITs abroad, while the proposal for the new campus was also announced in the 2024 Budget last November.

Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha has announced plans by his Ministry to send a team of academics to IIT Madras.

The Sri Lankan delegation will be sent to India before the arrival of the team from the IIT in Sri Lanka next month for discussions on setting up the campus.

The Minister further said the IIT Madras team is also expected to present a report to Sri Lanka’s University Grants Commission (UGC) outlining its courses and initiating the process of establishing the Kandy branch campus. 

The development comes after Minister Susil Premajayantha undertook a visit to India in December last year for discussions with the IIT-Madras on establishing a campus in Sri Lanka.

During the visit, Minister Premajayantha engaged in a meeting with senior officials of the IIT Madras. (NewsWire)

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Sri Lanka’s Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha recently (Dec 15) undertook a visit to India for discussions with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-Madras) in Chennai.

According to the Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka in Chennai, the visit was part of the plan envisioned by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to establish the presence of IIT-Madras in Sri Lanka.

Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Southern India Dr. D. Venkateshwaran organized a meeting with the senior officials of the IIT Madras with Sri Lanka’s Education Minister Susil Premajayantha at the IIT-Madras campus.

Kamakodi, Director Dr. Mahesh Panchagnula, Professors of the Department of Applied Mechanics, Senior Project Officer, University Relations Priya Venkat from IIT-Madras participated in the meeting. 

During the meeting, Minister Premajayantha assured to send a team of experts from Colombo to IIT Madras for further discussions on the proposal. (NewsWire)

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