There has been a steep decline in Dhamma school attendance, with nearly 2.2 million students having discontinued their Dhamma education, says Deputy Minister Gamagedara Dissanayake. Statistics reveal that close to 2.2 million students in Sri Lanka have discontinued their education in Dhamma schools, Deputy Minister Gamagedara Dissanayake told The Island.
While around four million students attend 10,096 government schools, approximately 1.8 million students are enrolled in 10,646 Dhamma schools across the country.
The Deputy Minister said that some 123,000 teachers currently work in Dhamma schools, and efforts were underway to enhance their training and knowledge.
In addition, programmes are being developed to raise awareness among parents about the importance of Dhamma education for all children, including Buddhists, Catholics, and Muslims, he said.
by Nimal Gunathilake 