Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has emphasized the need for an education system that meets the demands of the international labour market while strengthening free education.
Addressing the Parliament today, MP Premadasa said the current education system requires significant reform and urged a review of whether the country’s education methodology produces global citizens.
He highlighted that 70% of a child’s brain develops between birth and age five, yet early childhood education, which takes place between ages three and five, remains largely informal.
The Opposition Leader noted that despite the existence of 17,910 preschools in the country, educational reforms should begin at the preschool level to formalize early childhood education.
MP Premadasa also pointed out the stark division in the country’s education system, where both free education and the broader education system create a gap between the privileged and the underprivileged.
He stressed the need to protect free education through adequate funding, system reforms, and modernization to ensure both physical and human resources are available to meet modern needs.
Presenting his views on the education system, he noted that 3.8 million students are enrolled in 10,096 schools nationwide, supported by 237,000 teachers and over 12,500 principals.
He emphasized the importance of maintaining and strengthening the education system, which gained momentum through Kannangara’s policies and proposed a new national policy to eliminate disparities among estate, rural, urban, and underprivileged schools, aiming to elevate all 10,096 schools to a high standard of excellence.
Why aren’t you keeping your election promises?
MP Premadasa criticized the government for failing to fulfil its election promise to remove VAT on educational equipment. He pointed out the stark difference between their past pledges and current actions. While academics previously protested for 6% of GDP to be allocated to education, only 0.84% has been allocated this year, compared to 0.86% last year. He also questioned why the Prime Minister, who once championed this cause, remains silent on the issue.
Government funds alone are not enough to improve education
The Opposition Leader argued that government funds alone are insufficient for educational reforms. He proposed introducing an educational sponsorship system by engaging wealthy individuals worldwide to secure additional funds beyond the government’s budget. He suggested fostering partnerships between free education schools and well-funded international schools to acquire resources. Additionally, he proposed the creation of trustee funds for every school with support from benefactors.
Implement the Subodini Report
MP Premadasa accused the government of ignoring the Subodini Report, which was once used to justify protests but has since been forgotten after gaining power. He demanded answers regarding the implementation of its recommendations and the ongoing teacher shortage.
Bring new technology to schools
Highlighting the importance of integrating information technology, digital technology, smart technology, and artificial intelligence into education, MP Premadasa questioned the government’s efforts in these areas. He criticized the government’s repressive approach to handling protests and urged it to provide real solutions to educational challenges.
He also stressed the need for inclusive education policies for the disabled community and pointed out that between 35,000 and 40,000 graduates remain unemployed. He criticized the Compass Party for failing to deliver on its promise of graduate employment, calling their pledges mere dreams.
Cuts to university lecturers’ allowances
MP Premadasa condemned the reduction of academic and research allowances for university lecturers, as well as the removal of monthly allowances for non-academic university staff.
Political victimization in the Education Sector
He accused the government of politicizing the education sector, citing incidents such as the alleged victimization of the Dehiattakandiya Zonal Education Director and controversies surrounding the Chancellor’s position at Rajarata University. He further criticized the political interference in Vice-Chancellor appointments at Rajarata, Eastern, and South Eastern Universities. He pointed to the case of the University of Ruhuna, where the governing board was dissolved after applications were called for a Vice-Chancellor position, and a less-qualified candidate was chosen over Professor Samantha Kumara.
The Government’s “76-Year Curse” narrative vs. real data
MP Premadasa challenged the government’s narrative about a so-called “76-year curse,” presenting statistics to highlight progress in education. He noted that literacy rates reached 92.49% by 2022, and the student-teacher ratio in primary schools improved to 16.8 students per teacher. While only 42% of students completed primary education in 1976, this figure rose to 96% by 2022. The proportion of trained primary education teachers increased from 82% in 2010 to 87% in 2022, and tertiary education enrollment grew from 18.7% in 2015 to 22% in 2022. Additionally, the number of government schools has increased from 3,188 in 1950 to 10,096 today.
He concluded by urging the government to prioritize meaningful reforms and ensure the education system serves all citizens equally. (Newswire)