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Learning to change, changing to learn

06 Mar 2021

Change in an education system is a harbinger of national change; education is central to how people think, live and work, how they adapt to the new, and the ways they drive change. Our education system is outdated, and out of sync with the needs of today. Its archaic foundations have remained in place despite a few steps to modernise the system in the post-Kannangara era.  Over the years, Sri Lanka has been unable to achieve substantive education reform, fundamentally due to education policy being too closely intertwined with the political powers-that-be. The blurred lines between policy making politicians and public administrators has meant that instead of taking a long-term view, we have instead been mired in reform limited to the length of a political cycle. The objective of a free public education system such as ours must be to provide equitable opportunities to all, to help level the playing field. But the deeply embedded systemic issues in education often result in the gap widening each year, leaving mediocre performers bitter in its wake. Outside of the education system, employers – particularly those in the private sector – are left with the challenge of absorbing new recruits who are far from prepared for working life, whether in skills and competencies, mindsets, or maturity. Real change must pivot upon a substantial needs assessment and the engagement of multiple stakeholders; it cannot be the wishlist of a handful of central policymakers. It is essential that even students are given a voice in education reform, because real challenges, cultural insights, and the reality of even the tiny classroom in a village far away must be considered in what comes next. And such needs assessments must recognise the requirements of local employers and the private sector over the medium- to long-term so that work can begin, at least now, on creating a better match between jobs and skills available. The crisis in education begins from the point of entry into formal education and the scramble and corruption involved in gaining a place in a “good” school, because education is seen as an effective tool in intergenerational upward mobility.  The Education Ministry speaks of increasing the number of national schools as a solution to the fervent demand for places in popular, national schools. This is far from a solution for the current issues – these schools are already weighed down by huge classrooms, which leaves little room for individual attention, in a future where identifying the unique and diverse talents of students should be the goal of education.  As things stand, our examination-centric system rewards the high performer, and fits every child into the mould of an established curriculum and set of expectations. A new syllabus must take into account the importance of experiential learning and step outside of its traditional leanings by recognising that our children’s future will offer many new and adventurous paths to growth.   The quality of output is wholly dependent on the quality of input, and that’s why teacher development is an intrinsic part of the reform process. The current cadre that is accustomed to passive teaching must of course be upskilled and trained to realign with the shifting goalposts, but getting better teachers also involves fundamental reform in higher education for teachers themselves, as well as a realistic and practical approach to how effective teachers may be rewarded and retained. Education systems are now shifting to become learning environments that impart professional skills outside of the traditional, and prepare students to be creative and adaptable to changing circumstances so that they respond faster to grasp opportunities. That is the ideal mindset for the private sector, which seeks to be fit for the future by harnessing the human skills that allow it to perform and thrive through change and challenges. It takes will and vision to institute substantive education reform, and it will take hard work to implement such change. But any progress as a nation will be firmly rooted to how well we match our education system to the world we live in, and how soon we do it.

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Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!


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