Saturday Jul 18, 2026
Saturday Jul 18, 2026
Saturday, 18 July 2026 03:29 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
President says Government ready to provide greater funding for vocational education through 2027 Budget
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President and Finance Minister |
President and Finance Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday directed officials to give greater priority to vocational education in the 2027 Budget, with the Government prepared to allocate the necessary funding as part of broader education reforms, while reviewing plans to invest Rs. 382 billion in the education sector during 2027-2031.
The President made the remarks during the 2027 pre-Budget discussion with the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, where progress under the 2026 Budget and funding requirements for next year were reviewed.
The Ministry received a total allocation of Rs. 303 billion under the 2026 Budget to cover recurrent and capital expenditure, comprising Rs. 160 billion for general education, Rs. 122 billion for higher education and Rs. 20 billion for vocational education.
Officials said vocational education had received its largest-ever capital allocation of Rs. 8 billion this year. They also reported that 57,959 students had enrolled during the first two quarters of 2026 across 310 Government vocational training institutions.
Discussions focused on increasing annual student intake to vocational education institutions, allocating a permanent site for the Ocean University, gradually expanding admissions to the University of Vocational Technology from next year and strengthening University Colleges to improve access to technical degree and diploma programmes across the country.
The meeting also reviewed plans to invest Rs. 382 billion in the education sector over the 2027-2031 period, including the proposed Digital Transformation Project.
The President stressed that budget allocations should be utilised according to national priorities and identified needs, while cautioning that foreign-funded education projects should proceed only where they align with national education policies and do not create an unnecessary debt burden.
Officials also reported that rehabilitation work had commenced on 20 schools and National Colleges of Education damaged by Cyclone Ditwah under a Rs. 1.9 billion programme.
The meeting further discussed increasing financial assistance for students with special educational needs, raising allowances for student teachers at National Colleges of Education and addressing teacher shortages, non-academic staff vacancies and salary anomalies through a coordinated public sector approach, including the appointment of a special commission to recommend permanent solutions.
