• Notes that losses in advance of Rs. 65 m incurred in preparation, printing, storage, and distribution activities concerning Gr. 6 edu. reforms  
• Applications called for from grads to join public sector teacher service  

Responding to Education Minister, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya’s claim in Parliament about the problematic situation of the new education reforms Grade Six modules, which had not resulted in a loss to the State, the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) stated the claim was misleading and the country had already incurred a significant financial loss.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, the CTU President Priyantha Fernando said that the Grade Six English Language module introduced as part of the reforms cannot be used, despite nearly Rs. 65 million having been spent on its preparation and printing alone. “When such a large sum was spent on a module that cannot be used, how can the Premier say there is no loss?” he queried. Even if the Education Ministry attempts to salvage parts of the material by removing problematic pages or links and reusing the rest, he said this would still amount to a loss, as the original module cannot be distributed in its current form. Although other Grade Six subject modules may still be usable in the future, the English Language module, he claimed, is a complete write-off. Fernando further pointed out the Government had initially planned to distribute these new modules to Grade Six students in 2026, but that this did not happen. "As a result, schools have been forced to revert to the old syllabus and existing textbooks. Because the new modules were not issued, the Ministry now has to print a significant number of old textbooks to meet demand. Printing, storage, and distribution all involve costs. How can this be described as a situation where no loss has occurred?”

Addressing the Parliament on Tuesday (3), Dr. Amarasuriya said that none of the Grade Six modules introduced under the new education reforms had been withdrawn. Responding to a question raised by Opposition Parliamentarian Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, she said that only the first-term modules for Grade Six had been printed and that no decision had been taken to remove them or act in a way that would cause a financial loss. She also told the Parliament the Government plans to implement the new Grade Six reforms in 2027 and the printed modules would be used when the implementation begins. In addition, she said the distribution of Grade Six textbooks printed under the old syllabus and stored in warehouses had already commenced, with the aim of completing distribution by mid-February 2026. 

Meanwhile, applications were invited for the recruitment of graduates, both those currently employed in the public service and those who are not, to the Teachers’ Service, to fill existing vacancies in the Sinhala, Tamil, and English mediums at National and Provincial schools across the island. According to the Gazette notification, the online application process for graduates currently in the public service will open today (5) at 9 a.m. and close on 19 February of this year (2026) at 9 p.m.

Applications are also invited from graduates who are currently not employed in the public service to be absorbed into the teaching service. The online application process for these candidates will open on 20 February at 9 a.m. and conclude on 5 March at 9 a.m. Candidates are advised that applications can only be submitted through the official online system.

The relevant Gazette notification states that the application form is available on the official website of the Examinations Department, www.doenets.lk, under the “Our Services” section by selecting the “Online Applications – Recruitment Exams / E.B. Exams.”