• Vocational edu. from Gr. 9

The 2029 General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level (GCE O/L) Examination will be held under the new curriculum, Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has confirmed.

Premier Dr. Amarasuriya said that steps are being taken to unveil the guidelines to the new educational reform process by August of this year, which is scheduled to be implemented in 2026. A discussion on teacher training for the initiative was held at the National Institute of Education (NIE) in Maharagama with the participation of Dr. Amarasuriya.

She stated that a new curriculum will be introduced for grades one and six starting in 2026, for grade 10 in 2028, and that the GCE O/L Examination will be conducted under the new curriculum by 2029. It was also mentioned that vocational education will be introduced starting from grade nine.

The Premier highlighted that educational reform is based on five key pillars: curriculum revision, teacher training, the provision of administrative and infrastructure facilities, the establishment of proper evaluation processes, and ensuring public engagement.

She also emphasised that it is the responsibility of national education institutions to produce teachers who are rich in progressive attitudes.

Furthermore, she instructed officials to not only implement the reforms but also to monitor the progress.