Educational reform: Capitalism,compassion, or both?

Educational reform stands as one of the cornerstone commitments in the NPP’s election manifesto. Entrusted with this critical responsibility, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, who also serves as the Minister of Education, is at the forefront of implementing reforms that will shape the future of Sri Lanka's younger generations.

- BY GAMINI JAYAWEERA

However, it appears that the discourse surrounding the proposed education bill has so far been poorly articulated in Parliament. The Prime Minister and several senior ministers have not clearly communicated its objectives and potential impacts, following the proposed roadmap for implementation.

Recognising these shortcomings, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake took the initiative to address Parliament himself. His intent was to clarify the vision behind the NPP’s proposed reforms, which include modernising the national curriculum, improving educational infrastructure, and addressing the persistent resource and accommodation shortages that threaten to leave some schools behind. His address aimed to restore public confidence and ensure a more inclusive and equitable education system across the country.

President AKD’s speech was ery thoughtful and inspiring. His vision for the development of our education system is commendable. I fully support most of the ideas he outlined for modernising the curriculum and using available resources in the most effective and economical manner, especially in today's rapidly evolving technological environment. His emphasis on aligning our education with global standards to enable our children to compete on an equal footing with their peers around the world is both timely and necessary.

That said, I do have concerns about the future of certain critical areas that were not addressed by the President, the Prime Minister, or other senior ministers. I understand that the proposed reforms are still under discussion, and that the Prime Minister is currently touring the country to gather feedback from various stakeholders. However, since no separate standalone NPP white paper has been published, my reflections are based solely on limited sources, including President AKDS’s speech. It is in this context that I wish to express some reservations and seek further clarity on the direction of these reforms.