Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha has announced the government's ambitious plan to transform 1,250 of the country's top schools into "smart schools."
This initiative will enable centralized management of school proceedings from the Ministry of Education (MOE). The transformation is supported by a USD 20 million aid package from China.
Minister Premajayantha made these remarks during an event held at Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya in Colombo, where classrooms from grades 1 to 5 were upgraded to smart classrooms. He also highlighted the progress of the new education system, set to be implemented next year for grades 1-6 and 6-10. The learning modules have been finalized, and the textbooks are expected to go to print within the next two weeks.
Addressing the challenge of training teachers and necessary trainers, Minister Premajayantha emphasized the need for these changes to ensure that future students are equipped to meet upcoming challenges. Without this transformation, students leaving school in the next ten years might struggle to cope with evolving demands.
In addition to the smart school initiative, the minister 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, with diploma holders no longer being recruited.
Minister Premajayantha further emphasized the importance for professionals, including teachers and doctors, to continually update their knowledge in line with rapidly evolving fields.
