A set of proposals presented yesterday (17) seeking education sector reforms suggested that steps should be taken to reform the education system to facilitate the completion of university education by the age of 21.

During a press briefing held by a group consisting of various parties related to the education system to discuss pressing education system reforms, the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) General Secretary Joseph Stalin further noted that although a plethora of issues requiring solutions and potential areas for improvement have been identified, the authorities have shown a serious delay in taking concrete action. 

Among the reforms that were presented during the discussion were completely overhauling the preschool and early childhood development centre system maintained by teachers with no proper training, ensuring that the entire education sector is in line with uniform standards, separating the primary and secondary education systems, maintaining an independent school system, abolishing the concept of ‘popular schools’, overhauling the student evaluation system, taking appropriate steps against the private tuition sector, taking steps to elevate teachers’ professional and social status, and ensuring equitable resource distribution in the education sector. In addition, Stalin noted that it is important to reform the teacher training process as some teacher training syllabuses have not been updated since 2011.