The Hon. Thurairasa Ravikaran

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, Hon. Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, the 2026 education initiatives move towards achieving quality, equity and excellence. We welcome the new reforms aligned to global norms and to Sri Lanka’s transformation.

¶ 02 Allowances for differently abled students, student bursaries, higher education bursaries, hardship allowances for teachers in difficult schools, and increased administrative allowances for principals are welcome.

¶ 03 For a better future, current students must gain strong knowledge, skills and attitudes. The foundation must start from preschools. Without proper oversight of this foundation, we are building storeys on loose soil — it could collapse any time. Free education from Grade 1 has not yet been ensured in preschools. The 2026 Budget does not show achievable solutions for standardizing preschools or reducing resource disparities among them. Nor does it clarify teacher training and resource allocations for the common preschool curriculum to start in 2027.

¶ 04 On strengthening general education: will quality, equity and excellence still remain a challenge in Vanni in 2026? What answers do you have for intermediate schools without a single computer, without ICT labs, without internet or functioning science labs? Island schools, particularly in the North, face severe challenges in equity, quality and opportunities.

¶ 05 There is a shortage of over 300 teachers in primary education in the Northern Province alone. The Government’s framework lacks proper oversight of preschool education; at the same time, primary schools lack sufficient teachers. Thus, numeracy and literacy expected by age 10 are in question.

¶ 06 A Ministry study during COVID on Grade 3 literacy and numeracy found only 16% in the North and 25% in the East had age-appropriate reading skills. In the last Grade 5 Scholarship results, the percentage scoring above 35 in those regions was below the national level of 70.43%. This shows a strong need to improve early grade literacy and numeracy in the North and East.

¶ 07 Many classroom buildings started years ago remain incomplete. How many more years will it take to complete them? In Vavuniya South, 10 schools; in Mannar, five; and in Vavuniya North and Mullaitivu zones, two each still need completion. In Mannar Zone alone: 26 schools have not a single desktop computer; 45 schools lack internet; 72 laptops are defunct; 126 desktop computers defunct; 13 smart TVs defunct; 22 projectors defunct; 539 desktop units defunct — 772 devices in total not functioning. In Mullaitivu Zone alone, 870 electronic devices, including 522 desktops, are defunct. In Vavuniya South Zone, 488 devices including 318 desktops are defunct. Outdated and broken equipment are widespread across three zones. Will the 2026 Budget ensure at least one administrative desktop per primary school under General Education Modernization?

¶ 08 You currently provide one computer each to selected schools under certain projects. When will you create genuine educational transformation across all schools?

¶ 09 On WASH facilities: capping toilets at “one per 100 students” is unrealistic. For schools with 100-200 students, can all use the toilet and wash within a 15-minute interval? Children will avoid drinking water and face health issues. Funds for construction, repairs and maintenance of toilets have been insufficient in past years and in 2025. In zones needing repairs for 60 schools, funds are given only for around 20.

¶ 10 Limited physical and human resources make not only the 2026 reforms difficult; even implementing the current curriculum is hard without ICT and lab facilities. Will quality, equity and excellence remain out of reach for Vanni in 2026 as well?

¶ 11 Hon. Minister, you once fought for 6% of GDP for education. Today, as Minister, even half of that cannot be allocated.

¶ 12 “Asai to say; but rare the one Who does as said, task well done.”

¶ 13 Thank you.