Teachers’ groups questioned the effectiveness of the proposed education reforms, adding that the proposed steps not only don’t provide solutions to some of the pressing concerns in the education sector, but will also likely lead to new challenges.

These opinions were expressed by the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin during a press briefing held yesterday (29) where he observed: “These are not their (Government’s) own proposals. These had been rejected previously. These don’t provide solutions to the issues existing in the education sector. What happens is the issue becoming more complicated.”

Stalin added that the proposed reforms do not provide solutions to undue competition in the education sector, which he said is one of the key challenges. In addition, noting that the proposed reforms also aim to introduce seven new subjects for the General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level Exam, he questioned how the teaching of such a number of subjects will be managed and how teachers would be trained to handle the same. According to Stalin, these practical concerns will have a negative impact on school children.

In addition, Stalin expressed disapproval of the Government not obtaining the opinions and suggestions of teachers and principals, and for giving some kind of recognition for the private tuition sector despite the fact that it is a challenge to school education.