Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena stressed that it is essential to expeditiously prepare a systematic report containing data on school dropouts. 

Addressing the Regional Development Committee meeting held at the Maharagama Divisional Secretariat (DS) on Monday (8), he pointed out that it will be difficult to implement proper programmes targeting the future of those children without clear information about the children who drop out of school.

“If children who leave school at the end of the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary Level (O/L) and Advanced Level (A/L) Examinations for various reasons do not engage in higher education, their personal development would be affected apart from creating a social issue. It is essential that the children who were registered in the school up to GCE O/L or A/L be recorded at the level of the respective DS and it is imperative to find out the way in which these children leave without taking the exams and for what reason they do so. Although facilities including foreign aid are received to enhance education in this country and equip youth with technology, the inability to complete this necessary data system may lead to a situation where those programmes cannot be implemented”.

He instructed Government officials to immediately commence the recording of data on children who drop out of school.