Hon. Sajith Premadasa - Leader of the Opposition

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, we all agree the education system needs significant change. Does it produce global citizens? Does it supply skills in demand internationally? To strengthen free education, we must pursue this transformation.

¶ 02 Seventy percent of brain development occurs from birth to age five. Early childhood education (pre-school, ages 3–5) in Sri Lanka is largely informal. We have 17,910 pre-schools, but conditions during this critical period are inadequate. Reforms must start from preschool through primary, secondary, and tertiary.

¶ 03 There is a clear stratification even within free education: “have” and “have-not” education—urban/popular versus rural/non-popular schools. Policy must unify and upgrade all 10,096 schools. While it may be unrealistic to fully judge this government’s short tenure, we can draw inferences from its trajectory. On the campaign trail you pledged to remove VAT on educational equipment; why has this not been implemented?

¶ 04 You mentioned the passing of a university academic; we share your sorrow. You recalled the FUTA march and its demand: 6% of GDP for education. According to the Fiscal Responsibility Committee, the allocation this year is 0.848% of GDP (0.86% last year)—far from that target. There is a stark gap between promises and action.

¶ 05 Are current budgetary allocations sufficient to build our schools and universities? No. I propose launching an “Education Philanthropy” model—engage global philanthropists to supplement state funds; and establish Sister School Partnerships between resource-rich and less-resourced schools. Likewise, create endowment-style school trust funds with local benefactors, offering lawful incentives, for all 10,096 schools.

¶ 06 Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order, please!

¶ 07 Continuing, we propose that free education institutions form sister relationships with foreign schools/universities to access resources; not relying solely on state funds.

¶ 08 Increase this year’s allocations where possible—e.g., remove VAT on school equipment before Third Reading of the Appropriation Bill. Address human resource shortages across non-academic staff, teachers, principals, advisors, educationists, and administrators. The Subodhini report-driven struggle addressed salary anomalies partially; the unresolved components for teachers and principals remain—will you implement the report’s recommendations?

¶ 09 On modernizing education: beyond ICT and digital tech, AI is transforming learning. What is the plan to embed STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics), medicine, and IT to meet these challenges?

¶ 10 Development officers who sustained services during COVID and the crisis were promised rights before the election; today they face batons and water cannons. Convene all stakeholders—non-academic, teachers, principals, advisors, administrators—to find solutions.

¶ 11 For persons with disabilities—1.7 million in Sri Lanka—education reform must include inclusive provisions.

¶ 12 On unemployed graduates: 35,000–40,000 are jobless. Your policy statement (p. 720) promises to recruit 20,000 graduates as teachers; 3,000 STEM graduates; 9,000 non-STEM for IT; and 3,000 for Inland Revenue, Customs, Foreign Service, and tourism. Graduates are skeptical as the Budget speech lacked a concrete plan. In North Central, interviews were held even before results; in Central, those who passed interviews have not been appointed. With such irregularities, what is your plan to fulfill the promise to these 35,000–40,000 graduates?

¶ 13 You recalled the FUTA march; today university academics say Academic and Research Allowances have been cut, and non-academic MC Allowance removed. As a university academic yourself, please verify and address this.

¶ 14 I did not expect a government with such a mandate to pursue political reprisals. For example, in Dehiattakandiya, Zonal Director T.S.D. Peiris faces retaliation despite good work. Why was the former Chancellor of Rajarata University, the Venerable Eethalawetunuwewa Gnaneethilaka Thero (the Chief Incumbent of Ruwanweliseya), removed? Pro-Vice-Chancellor appointments at Ruhuna, Rajarata, Eastern, and South-Eastern universities appear politicized. At Ruhuna, after calling for applications, the Council was dissolved; a new Council appointed by the authorities then bypassed the first-ranked candidate Prof. Samantha Kumara and appointed the second—clear political interference. The UGC must not improperly influence University Council decisions. Establish a merit-based system for Vice-Chancellor and other appointments.

¶ 15 On modernization: we can learn from high-performing systems without copying blindly—Finland (equity, trust, teacher quality/autonomy, balanced approach), Singapore (rigorous curriculum, investment in professional development, strong state support), South Korea (high standards, valuing education, continuous improvement), Japan (consistency, discipline, solid core foundation, holistic development), Canada (inclusivity/equity, local autonomy, innovation, strong international performance), Estonia (innovative use of technology, modern curriculum, strong results).

¶ 16 You often cite “76 years of curse.” Let me present 11 data points showing progress: literacy reached 92.49% (2022); favourable primary pupil–teacher ratio (16.8 in 2022); primary completion rose from 42% (1976) to 96% (2022); trained primary teachers from 82% (2010) to 87% (2022); tertiary enrolment from 18.7% (2015) to 22% (2022). Government schools increased from 3,188 (1950) to 10,096 today; teachers from 38,000 (1950) to ~250,000; universities from one (1948) to 17; academic staff from 2,808 to 7,807; graduates produced annually from 4,206 (1995) to 30,329 (2022); postgraduate output from 1,048 (1995) to 10,348 (2022). These contradict the “76-year curse” narrative.

¶ 17 We need change: close the have/have-not gap; strengthen free education. Emulate India’s IIM and IIT models—build software engineering and technology hubs across provinces, then districts, then DS divisions. We will support quality-enhancing steps that protect free education. Thank you.