The Hon. Hesha Withanage Ankumbura Arachchi

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to speak on the vital Budget Head for Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education. We have debated the Budget for a month; today’s Ministry head is especially important. Opening this debate, Hon. Dr. Rohini Kavirathna clarified many present anomalies in the ongoing reforms.

¶ 02 As Chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Education, Labour Force and Human Capital, I have, over recent months, sought thorough understanding of the reforms and answers to public concerns. I extend respect to the Ministry Secretary, Mr. Nalaka Kaluwawila, for his active support, and to the Minister for her efforts. Our party recognizes the need for education reform. Reform cannot be an instant noodles exercise; it must evolve over years to fit society. We do not oppose reform per se; we say reforms must suit our children and be internationally compatible. However, we observe initial positions being reversed within days; at times we do not even know where the reform process currently stands.

¶ 03 For example, the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination: initially declared harmful and to be abolished; after public pushback, the Government now says it will not be scrapped. Real change should come after study and clarity, without the need to retract publicized decisions.

¶ 04 There are also debates about History, and about extending the school day by 30 minutes—both among the public and teachers. Reforms inevitably involve adjustments, but if the entire programme shifts wholesale to another track, there are weaknesses. I urge the Minister to ensure that reforms consider whether poor children beyond Colombo, in areas like Ambilipitiya and Thanamalwila which I represent, can cope with them. Many mothers there do not even know what “QR” means—how will they navigate these changes? We must move with the world, but with sensitivity to our social realities, so reforms do not further disadvantage the already vulnerable. Reforms must suit all communities across the country.

¶ 05 On pre-school education, our Leader Hon. Sajith Premadasa also spoke. Several proposals have been floated, but we have no clear statement on where pre-school reform begins or how it fits the broader package. Parents need clarity at their child’s first step into education.

¶ 06 Election promises are the Government’s responsibility. The hardest current task for the Government is not replying to opposition but answering its own campaign pledges. The Minister herself led a group advocating 6% for education; but as Minister she has failed even to secure 50% of that aspiration. Even if you cannot deliver all promises, at least fulfill the critical one: removing VAT on school items. You pledged to remove VAT on school supplies to support children’s education. That promise now looks like a dream. Provide a clear answer. Removing 18% VAT would cut a standard school-item pack cost by about 25%—more valuable to a family with 4–5 children than a Rs. 5,000 monthly handout. The new Government was trusted to do this.

¶ 07 On the long-discussed “tuition culture”: from your main stage you vowed to address it and reduce the pressure on children and parents. Yet now rumors abound that a powerful Government hand protects certain actors, and that licensing is being used to privilege some, even affecting A/L Economics exam paper controversies. A Government that came to curb tuition now seems to nourish it.

¶ 08 Your political campaigns featured unemployed graduates. You vividly portrayed the hardships of rural graduates. Yet instead of realizing their employment dreams, there is still no mechanism to regularize Development Officers with degrees who have taught in schools for 3–5 years. The President tells them to leave the streets and study for more exams. How did your stance shift so fast?

¶ 09 Education and teacher educator administrative officers face pay anomalies. We expected this Budget to address them. As of 01.01.2022, newly recruited officers get higher salaries than serving officers. This is unhealthy and remains unaddressed. Longstanding anomalies between the Teacher Service and Principal Service also persist, discouraging competent teachers from taking up principal duties. You too have failed to fix this.

¶ 10 In the Educators’ Service, officers bonded in 2014 only receive vehicle permits by 2020, and now even that permit has been reduced to a mere paper, without meaningful benefit. For academics and qualified education professionals who chose to stay and serve free education rather than go abroad, this is a blow. If there was urgency to import 1,775 vehicles for others, extend that urgency here as well.

¶ 11 On higher education: discussions with the UGC Chairman revealed gaps compared with the Prime Minister’s earlier answers. Vice-Chancellor appointments are overly politicized. For Rajarata University, a panel recommends three names; UGC then returns asking for another name or rejects all three. Who sits on these committees? Reports say even individuals without O/Ls, or people turning up informally, are involved. This is not your personal fault, Minister, but it must be corrected. VC appointments deserve the highest standards, free of political henchmen.

¶ 12 On foreign university approvals: currently clearance is based on institutional ranking with virtually no follow-up regulation—no checks on facilities or programmes. This has enabled numerous degree mills. Lacking proper legal authority, the UGC claims it cannot intervene. Where is our higher education headed? We urge urgent legal and regulatory measures to empower the UGC.

¶ 13 Thank you, Hon. Chairman.