The Hon. Mahinda Jayasinghe - Deputy Minister of Labour

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, today we debate a decisive and important subject: education reform. Especially since 2015, there have been no substantive curricular reforms. What our country needs is not just reform but a transformation of education. Hitherto, we had only curriculum changes; our Government proposes a transformation grounded on five pillars. Why? Because global knowledge doubles every two years. We need an education that can move forward with the world.

¶ 02 We must nurture not just children who memorize, but children who learn how to learn. For that, we are ready for an education revolution. We recognize a large skills gap between education and practical application. We need an education that values practical competence above certificates. We must develop children who can compete not just locally but with children from Singapore, India, America and Scandinavia—children with critical thinking, problem-solving and other competencies. That is why these reforms, this transformation, have been crafted.

¶ 03 This is a clearly structured transformation across five pillars. Some try to say it is the “old thing.” Curricula are not SJB, UNP or SLPP; regardless of Government, one national curriculum must serve all. What distinguishes this is the strategic changes: a National Skills Assessment at the end of Grade 9—which we never had before—to identify aptitudes and abilities, moving away from rote learning. We must stop “teaching a fish to climb a tree and marking it” and instead evaluate appropriately.

¶ 04 We have also defined transversal skills and significant changes in upper secondary. We are opening streams oriented to skills, not just academic tracks. Compared with previous reforms since 2018, these are decisive departures.

¶ 05 There has been criticism—some valid, including from trade unions. We are ready to accept genuine concerns and correct shortcomings. Therefore, we decided to defer the Grade 6 curriculum changes to next year. We took this decision in the Cabinet on 12 January and announced it on the 13th. Yet from late December, the destructive Opposition stirred chaos. The Hon. Leader of the Opposition even introduced a new term, “asabhakaranaya” (vulgarization). Let me show where that began.

¶ 06 I have with me the “Information and Communication Technology – Grade 11” textbook (Education Publications Department), first issued in 2015 and reprinted nine times up to 2023 under the Maithri-Ranil-Sajith administrations. On page 77 it explains “Sending instant messages” and lists many links; at one place it mentions “buddy”. We all know what appears when one searches “buddy” online, yet no one raised it for 11 years while children used that book. But now they accuse us of bringing vulgarity through reforms. They hurled insults at the Prime Minister.

¶ 07 [Expunged on the order of the Chair.]

¶ 08 Another trade union leader’s conduct is laughable: when he took over a school in Udahamulla there were 226 students; by 2019, under his watch, it had fewer than 50. These are the people criticizing reforms. Another example: a certain monk did not see the 2015 “buddy” reference but suddenly discovered “buddy” in our Grade 6 English module.

¶ 09 They enjoyed privileges from 2015 to 2019, traveled to Japan at state expense, and now build false narratives. You, the Opposition, created the environment that forced us to defer the Grade 6 changes. Outside, their supporters hurled filth while some here say “we’re not against reforms.” Bring your no-confidence motion if you are serious. They claimed it was over vulgarization and “bringing homosexuality” through reforms. Today, however, the people across the country are signing petitions of no-confidence against them.

¶ 10 Some preach to us about religion—those who once disrespected our culture now lecture us. Regardless of insults, we will not abandon reforms meant to give our children a new world. Our Prime Minister has stood firm against abuse. Teachers are receiving salaries, and all public servants get the second salary increase this January—significant raises, including Rs. 3,900 to Rs. 18,000 for teachers.

¶ 11 One of our pillars is human resource development. We have finalized the report to establish the Education Council; we are translating it into Tamil and Sinhala and will convene our sub-committee next week for next steps. On the remaining two-thirds of the unresolved teacher salary anomalies, we are taking steps to resolve them. Through these reforms, we will unite the country behind creating a new world for our children. I conclude.

¶ 12 Thank you.