Srilankan education system and current situation
Likewise, in the future, authorities would introduce student-centered learning strategies to the Sri Lankan education system. Thereby, students will be able to gain knowledge through experience, collaboration, and teamwork. And with all these things, the Sri Lankan education system in the future would be more impressive and beneficial beyond a doubt.
Sri Lanka has a long history of educational evolution dating back two millennia. It is believed that the education system was established in Buddhist temples with the arrival of Buddhism from India. Nonetheless, the British Empire established the modern education system in the nineteenth century with the arrival of Christian missionaries. Education then was not given free of charge, but in 1938, C.W.W Kannangara initiated the establishment of a free education system on the island in order to provide an excellent education to all children.
Accordingly, Sri Lanka’s educational structure is divided into five levels, as shown below.
Primary Education (From Grades 1-5)
Junior Secondary Education (From Grades 6-9)
Senior Secondary Education (Grades 10 and 11)
Collegiate Level (Grades 12 and13)
Higher Education
It is a government regulation that all children should attend school until grade 9. Still, the Ministry of Education recommends that all students continue their studies until they obtain the General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (G.C.E O/L). Quite a several students fail to complete grade 9 and G.C.E O/L due to poor economy, lack of food, clothing, transportation, school materials, qualified teachers, and conflict-affected areas. As a result, they are not recognized as having received an academic education. These students enter the labor force without the necessary skills or vocational training. This is a major issue in the Sri Lankan economy.
Sri Lanka is currently experiencing its worst economic crisis to date, with a severe lack of foreign currency, looming debt repayments, high inflation, and food, fuel, and medicine shortages. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, education was already in crisis prior to the current economic conditions. During the peak of the pandemic, Sri Lankan students (approximately 4.3 million of them) were among the worst affected, with school closures lasting for extended periods of time. In Sri Lanka, closing schools for one day cause a loss of millions in learning and teaching hours.
According to global surveys, during economic downturns, many students leave the country in search of better educational opportunities. If the government does not address its students’ concerns and provide immediate solutions to their needs, the country will not only lose an entire generation of young people due to lower educational attainment during critical developmental years, but will also suffer from severe brain drain in the years ahead. While the country works on macroeconomic stabilization measures, it is also critical to address the education crisis.