Hon. Sajith Premadasa — Leader of the Opposition

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, proper policy-making under the Westminster model requires a Green Paper for public consultation, followed by a White Paper. Today, reforms are reduced to a PowerPoint, with neither document.

¶ 02 Reforms are necessary because our system is exam-bound and rote-driven. Stated goals include producing healthy, productive, progressive, trustworthy, flexible, cultured, lifelong-learning, patriotic citizens. But current proposals give no structured solutions to real deficits: Grade 5 Scholarship, O/L, A/L, national school distortions, absenteeism, teacher training, resources, Teacher/Principal Councils and administration.

¶ 03 Reforms must not benefit only elite schools while disadvantaging rural and difficult schools, undermining free education for 4.1 million students. We are not against reforms; we opposed inclusion of an obscene website in the Grade 6 English module. The President himself cited content faults, teacher training delays and technical issues, and postponed implementation to 2027. Acknowledge this and fix it.

¶ 04 Where is the strategy for AI, adaptive/personalized learning, AR/VR/XR, cloud-based platforms, mobile/ubiquitous learning, data and learning analytics, cybersecurity, blockchain for education, virtual labs, automation tools, metaliteracy and digital citizenship? Absent — because no Green/White Papers or discussion documents.

¶ 05 ICT must start early (K–12 globally), not from Grade 6 only. Module content presumes computers, software, connectivity, digital/IT labs, TV screens and smart boards — but the State now asks parents to fund these. This betrays free education. While some oppose private education for others, they embrace it for their own children. We call for upholding free education as a fundamental right and moving Sri Lanka towards global excellence with modernized, equitable reforms.