• Cabinet of Ministers decides to review same, Gr. 1 reforms to continue  
• NIE Governing Council to take disciplinary action against officials responsible for inappropriate web reference in Gr. 6 English module textbook 
• Modules to be sent to schools ahead of 21 Jan. distribution to students 

The Cabinet of Ministers has, on Monday (12), decided to review the ongoing Grade Six education reforms and defer their implementation until next year (2027), following controversy over newly prepared school modules and an investigation into an inappropriate web reference included in a Grade Six English language textbook.

Speaking to the media yesterday (13), Cabinet Spokesperson and Health and Mass Media Minister, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said that based on the findings of investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the National Institute of Education (NIE), the NIE’s Governing Council would take disciplinary action against the officers responsible for the incident involving the Grade Six English module. He said that the Cabinet had been informed of the matter and had agreed that the proposed Grade Six reforms required further review.

However, he clarified that education reforms planned for Grade One would continue as scheduled this year (2026).

Meanwhile, commenting to The Daily Morning, the Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa said that the Ministry was aware of social media posts circulating photographs of modules alleged to contain errors, but noted that these were not the versions printed for distribution to students. “What we believe is that the material being circulated on social media is modules that were provided to teachers during training. By the time the modules were printed, those issues had been corrected. There are no such problems in the printed modules,” he said.

He added that education reform is a continuous process and that the authorities could not wait for everything to be perfect before moving forward. “There was an issue with the Grade Six English language module. Other than that, there is no major issue. If there are other issues identified, they will be corrected as we proceed," Kaluwewa said, adding that the modules would be distributed to students when schools reopen on 21 January and be sent to schools ahead of that date.

Concerns regarding education reforms escalated after the suspension of a newly printed Grade Six English language module over an inappropriate web reference, which prompted the Ministry to launch an investigation and lodge a complaint with the CID.

Meanwhile, a discussion was scheduled to be held between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and several education sector trade unions (TUs) yesterday. The discussion was said to have been arranged with a focus on matters related to the new education reforms. However, some education sector TUs alleged that invitations to the discussion were extended only to a few unions that are aligned with the Government.

Additionally, over the past few days, strong objections have been raised by various parties regarding the modules printed in connection with the new education reforms, citing the inclusion of websites unsuitable for children as well as the presence of various errors. Protesters are of the view that the reforms should be temporarily withdrawn and that a proper and comprehensive reform process should be undertaken following due consultations with all the relevant stakeholders.

Also, former Minister Wimal Weerawansa, who was engaging in a continuous Satyagraha campaign in front of the Ministry, has decided to conclude the agitation. The protest campaign, conducted alongside a group of civil society representatives and others, was aimed at demanding the withdrawal of the new education reforms and calling for Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya to step down as the Education Minister.