The Ministry of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education states that there will be certain difficulties in implementing the upcoming education reforms, such as teacher shortages, which will be addressed depending on the situation.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewe said that teacher shortages and other challenges could occur in some schools but that they would be managed as the reforms were rolled out.

“The problem of teacher shortage can exist in any school. It is already an issue, but education continues. We have to manage these problems in some way. We cannot stop implementing the reforms just because there are challenges.”

He noted that the reforms would be rolled out under the new education framework and that the ministry would be receiving regular updates from zonal and provincial levels. 

“We will be getting feedback about the difficulties faced in various areas, and we believe we can move forward by addressing them according to each situation,” he added.

Kaluwewe opined that implementing the education reforms and resolving issues that arose in the process were two separate matters.

As part of the proposed reforms, the Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education Ministry recently announced that the number of subjects offered at the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary Level examination would be reduced to seven. The number of teaching periods per day will also be reduced to seven, with each period lasting 50 minutes.

Under the reforms, which are expected to take effect in 2026, school hours will be extended from 7.30 a.m. to 2 p.m., 30 minutes longer than the current closing time of 1.30 p.m. 

The ministry stated that the revised schedule was intended to create a more effective learning environment and make up for instructional time lost during disruptions such as the Covid-19 pandemic.