Education Ministry charts new course for education to drive inclusive economic growth

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya announces education reforms under the 2026 National Education Reform Program - focusing on inclusivity, quality, and accessibility Says English will be redefined as a tool for opportunity, shifting from exam-based learning to fluency-focused instruction while preserving the need for Tamil and Sinhala Plans include expanding English medium schools from 825 to 1,000 and improving bilingual teacher training to build a multilingual and globally competitive workforce Notes development schemes for teachers will be overhauled after 16 years to incorporate digital literacy and inclusive pedagogies Says a National Task Force on Digital Education will drive tech integration, digital equity, and online safety especially to enhance English learning The reforms call for unified action from Government, development partners, and the private sector to create equitable, future-ready education for all Sri Lankan youth

- BY JANANI KANDARAMAGE

UNVEILING a transformative vision for the nation’s educational framework, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya yesterday outlined the Ministry of Education’s reform agenda centred on inclusivity, accessibility, and qualityfeaturing structural overhauls, digital infrastructure investment, and equitable language education—with full implementation set for January 2026 under the national education Reform Program.

Delivering the keynote address at the Education Symposium 2025 organised by the British Council Colombo in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, she underscored the pressing need to reimagine English language education - not as a privilege, but as a critical tool aimed at empowering Sri Lankan learners for an increasingly dynamic and innovation-led global economy.

“English must serve as a tool to expand opportunity, not exacerbate inequality,” affirmed the Minister, advocating for a cultural shift that embraces diverse linguistic expressions while ensuring universal access to English education.

Highlighting the key initiatives designed to redefine English language teaching, she discussed the shift from conventional exam-focused learning to active engagement in spoken and written English-enabling educators to foster linguistic confidence in students rather than merely enforcing grammatical precision and pronunciation.