Reform Ambition Must Match Responsibility

Controversies in education

- By KKS PERERA

The Ministry of Education has suspended distribution of the newly printed Grade 6 English language module after discovering that it contained an incorrect website reference, sparking broader questions about the quality control mechanisms governing new education reforms.

While some critics have sought to assign blame to Prime Minister and Education Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. It would be unreasonable to hold the Minister personally responsible without a comprehensive investigation into how the error occurred, and at what stage of the multilayered review process it was introduced.

The incident came to light after social activists raised concerns about potential gaps in the multilayered review process meant to safeguard educational materials before they reach classrooms. Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa has requested a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into the matter, suggesting the possibility of deliberate tampering.

The error appeared in three places within the newly introduced Grade 6 module, to a website promoting LGBTQ rather than the educational application originally intended. According to officials, the incorrect reference led to a website with adult content, raising immediate concerns among parents and educators about how such an error could have escaped detection through multiple stages of review.

What has compounded concerns is that the module in question had been in circulation since August of last year, being used for teacher training purposes. This timeline has prompted questions about when the error was introduced and why it was not identified during the extended period of use.