Friday Jan 30, 2026
Friday Jan 30, 2026
Friday, 30 January 2026 00:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya
Prime Minister and Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya yesterday launched the national program to implement new education reforms for children entering Grade One in 2026, underscoring the Government’s commitment to ensuring that a child’s education is not shaped by the financial means of parents.
Addressing the launch event in Athurugiriya, the Prime Minister said protecting every child’s future is a core responsibility of the State and stressed that equal access to education would remain a non-negotiable principle under the reform agenda.
She said the reforms aim to create a more positive and pressure-free school environment, including steps to reduce the burden on young students and ensure that children are able to attend school with a sense of ease and confidence. A child-friendly learning atmosphere, she said, would be central to the reform process.
Dr. Amarasuriya said the Government also plans to extend education reforms that could not be introduced for Grade Six students in 2026 to those cohorts in subsequent years, to ensure continuity and inclusiveness in the transition.
The Prime Minister said a key element of the reforms is the protection of teacher professionalism and the strengthening of teacher competencies, recognising their role not only in academic instruction but also in shaping values and social development.
She noted that the reforms mark a shift away from the longstanding teacher-centred education model towards a student-centred approach, describing the initiative as a system-wide transformation rather than a narrow curriculum revision.
Special attention has been placed on safeguarding the mental well-being and personal freedom of children during the transition, with the objective of nurturing balanced and resilient future citizens, she said.
Under the new framework, primary education will lay a stronger foundation in technology, engineering, and mathematics, promote environment-related learning grounded in scientific principles, and strengthen English and second-language instruction.
Criticising the competitive, exam-driven education model that has prevailed for decades, Dr. Amarasuriya said it has contributed to student dropouts, and reaffirmed that the Government would not step back from its responsibility to keep every child within the education system and ensure equal opportunities to succeed.
