Education as system change: transforming DNA of Lanka's future

We see numerous discussion forums, experts, and other interested parties actively talking about our education system. It is sad to see a child weighing just 24 kilos struggling under the burden of a 10-kilo schoolbag. I consider this as one measurement to indicate the disaster of our education system. Most of the children coming under the category of Grade 6 to 10 have around eight subjects per day.

- BY PROF. NALIN ABEYSEKERA

In India, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) prescribed a weight limit for schoolbags for each class last year. Accordingly, the weight of schoolbags for students of classes one and two should not exceed 1.5 kg, while the schoolbags for students of classes three to five should weigh between 2 kg to 3 kg. The school bags of students of classes six and seven should not be more than 4 kg, while the weight of schoolbags of classes eight and nine students should not be above 4.5 kg. The schoolbag of a class 10 student should not weigh above 5 kg.

The schoolbag problem can be considered as only part of the real problem in education in Sri Lanka. There is a grave need for a major reform in the education system in Sri Lanka in terms of many aspects. But up to now, Sri Lanka has failed to have a proper comprehensive situational analysis of school education and University education. Experts need to take many equations in this context such as

1. Government and Private schools/Universities and curriculum and Quality

2. Equity and Inclusion: Analyze disparities in educational opportunities among various socioeconomic, ethnic, and gender groups.

3. Infrastructure and Resources

4. Governance and Policy Framework

5. Teacher Training and Deployment

6. Labor market alignment

7. Access and Enrollment