In response to an unprecedented exodus of teachers leaving the country amidst Sri Lanka's economic turmoil, the Ministry of Higher Education has announced plans to enlist foreign and expatriate volunteers to teach English to Sri Lankan students.
The initiative aims to alleviate the severe shortage of educators, which has been exacerbated by the departure of thousands of teachers seeking opportunities abroad.
According to officials from the Education Ministry, over five thousand teachers have obtained permission to temporarily leave their state jobs, while tens of thousands have departed without notifying authorities, leaving the education sector in dire straits. This mass departure has resulted in a critical deficit of teachers across the nation.
Suren Raghavan, the State Minister for Higher Education, emphasized that the shortage has been further compounded by the tendency of English graduates to pursue careers in the private sector, attracted by higher salaries. Many opt for roles as writers or in other industries, exacerbating the dearth of educators in schools and universities.
