Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha has announced the government’s plan to convert 1,250 of the country’s top schools into “smart schools,” enabling centralized management of school operations from the Ministry of Education (MOE).
This initiative will be supported by a USD 20 million aid package from China.
Minister Premajayantha made these remarks during an event at Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya in Colombo, where all classrooms from grades 1 to 5 have been upgraded to smart classrooms.
He also highlighted that the new education system, set to be implemented next year for grades 1-6 and 6-10, is nearing completion. The learning modules have been finalized, and textbooks are expected to go to print within the next two weeks.
The minister acknowledged the challenge of training teachers and trainers, noting that failure to address this issue might result in future students struggling to meet upcoming challenges.
Additionally, Minister Premajayantha announced plans to consolidate the National Colleges of Education (NCEs) into a single university. From 2028 onwards, only individuals with Bachelor of Education degrees will be eligible for teaching positions, while diploma holders will no longer be recruited.
He also emphasized the importance of continuous knowledge updates for professionals, including teachers and doctors, to keep pace with rapidly evolving fields.
