Reimagining Sri Lankan education: Beyond entitlement to empowerment – Part II

The failings of the Sri Lankan education system are not confined to its funding model;

- BY JAYASRI PRIYALAL

they are deeply embedded in the very content of what is taught and how it is assessed. The current curriculum is widely criticised for being outdated, rigid, and disconnected from the realities of the 21st-century global economy. It prioritises rote memorization over critical thinking, theoretical knowledge over practical application, and conformity over creativity. The result is a system that produces graduates who may be academically proficient but are often ill-equipped for the demands of the modern workplace. They lack the problem-solving skills, the adaptability, and the innovative mindset that are the hallmarks of a successful knowledge-based economy.

This "absence of originality" is a direct consequence of a system that has for too long been insulated from the forces of change. The world is undergoing a rapid technological transformation, yet the Sri Lankan classroom remains largely untouched by this revolution. While students outside the school gates are avidly consuming information from a vast and dynamic digital universe—learning from Wikipedia, YouTube, and other online platforms—the school curriculum remains tethered to outdated textbooks and antiquated teaching methods. This creates a jarring disconnect for young learners, who quickly perceive the irrelevance of what they are being taught in schools. The result is disengagement, disillusionment, and a loss of genuine interest in the formal learning process.