The Hon. (Dr.) Harini Amarasuriya

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, we are paying attention to infrastructure and taking all necessary steps.

¶ 02 There are five professional cadres in the education sector. We have adopted a plan to protect and develop professionalism across all five. For years, vacancies were not filled; with some recruitment exams from 2017–2019 still pending, we have resolved those issues this year, concluding court cases with the support of the Minister of Justice and the Attorney-General’s Department by using proper motions to expedite hearings. We will commence recruitment of graduates and teachers by January–February next year, filling long-pending vacancies.

¶ 03 At National Colleges of Education (NCoEs), curricula had not been revised for about 16 years; we expect to introduce new curricula by March. Infrastructure had seen almost no spending for years; conditions are poor. Therefore, in 2025 we allocated funds for 22 buildings and initiated 240 new projects across NCoEs and teacher training institutes. In 2026, Rs. 8,604 million is allocated to improve infrastructure and facilities. In parallel with pay adjustments and a proposed National Pay Commission to address long-standing anomalies, we are improving quality through new curricula and establishing the Education Council next year.

¶ 04 On dropout and transition rates: while any child leaving school is a concern, our transition rates are relatively good—Primary to Lower Secondary 98.668 percent; Lower Secondary to Secondary 97.558 percent; Grade 10 to Grade 11 is 96.588 percent. We can improve further, especially in rural areas and among boys, where it is about one percent higher.

¶ 05 On the A/L Economics paper issue: as exams are ongoing, we must act responsibly. Once informed, we initiated an investigation, referred the matter to the CID, and Chief Examiners are inquiring. Necessary actions will be taken, but we must avoid disturbing students during examinations. Please speak based on verified information, not gossip.

¶ 06 On regulation of the non-State sector: both at higher education and school levels, regulation has been inadequate for years. We have referred this to the National Education Commission for study and recommendations, and we are strengthening the unit that regulates non-State higher education institutions. Upon receiving NEC recommendations, we will proceed without delay.

¶ 07 Education reforms do not show results in a year or two, unlike a road. They take 10–20 years to bear fruit. We accept this responsibility seriously, as a team. I thank the Ministry Secretary and all officials for their dedication, including weekends, and provincial officials for their cooperation, since education is devolved. The NEC, NIE, Department of Examinations, and Department of Educational Publications are working together as one team.

¶ 08 We welcome dialogue to correct mistakes and improve. Our two State Ministers and our teams are working closely and with commitment. We appreciate the President’s leadership and interest in education, which allows us to proceed confidently.

¶ 09 Our Cabinet colleagues and Parliamentary group have supported us, as seen in today’s coordinated debate. We are confident that by the time we hand over to the next generation, education will be in a much better place. Thank you, Hon. Chairman, for the time.