The Education Ministry has announced that school hours will not be extended in 2026 due to the ongoing disaster situation and the damage caused to the school and transport systems in several provinces.
School Year Schedule:
Grades 5–13: School hours will remain 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
First term for government schools, government-approved private schools, and Pirivenas will begin on 5 January 2026
Number of periods per day (Grades 6–13): 7 periods of 45 minutes each
Education Reform Implementation:
The education reform process will be implemented for Grades 1 and 6 in 2026
Grade 6 studies will formally commence on 21 January 2026
Grade 1 student identification will start on 5 January 2026, with formal studies beginning on 29 January 2026
Activity books for Grade 1 and learning modules for Grade 6 have already been distributed
Textbooks and Exams:
Textbooks for other grades have been fully distributed
The remaining 2025 GCE Advanced Level Examination will be held from 12 to 20 January 2026
A detailed circular with these arrangements will be issued on 2 January 2026.
