Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has revealed that about 20,000 students have dropped out of the education system, while another 80,000 do not attend school regularly, according to a 2024 survey conducted by the Ministry of Education.
Dr. Amarasuriya, who also serves as Minister of Higher Education and Vocational Training, made the disclosure on Saturday (26) during a meeting with Sabaragamuwa provincial education officials at the Ratnapura District Secretariat. The meeting focused on briefing officials on the government’s forthcoming education reforms.
“We’re not claiming the current system is useless—it has produced many exceptional individuals,” she said. “But each year, a large number of children fall through the cracks, and there’s little to no attention paid to them. The new reforms will go beyond curriculum changes and aim for a complete structural overhaul.”
The proposed reforms, she said, would be rolled out in phases, beginning in 2026, starting with Grades 1 and 6.
Highlighting the critical role of teachers in the education process, the Prime Minister underscored the need for a rationalised teacher deployment policy to address existing shortages.
“There are schools in Sabaragamuwa with fewer than 10 students each. In some cases, a single teacher is instructing just five pupils. This situation must be rectified,” she said.
Dr. Amarasuriya also took aim at past administrations, accusing them of politicising education by using it for personal branding and enrolling students arbitrarily to win votes. “That approach seriously disrupted the system. But that chapter is now closed,” she declared.