Education

 PreSchool Child development

•  Encourage the setting up of pre schools close to every primary school in areas where  no pre school facilities are presently available. Proposal to set aside Rs. 300 million for this initiative

Upgrade School Facilities

• Proposed to increase the allocation made for 1,000 schools in which Mahindodaya laboratories are located covering each divisional secretariat area by Rs. 15,000 million

• An allocation of Rs. 1,500 million will be provided for the ongoing initiatives to upgrade sanitation and other facilities in rural schools.

• Rs. 750 million will be allocated to develop Maharagama Teacher Training College as a well equipped training center with regard to all subjects, while facilities in all other teacher training colleges in the country will also be upgraded

• An allocation of Rs. 300 million will be provided for the setting up of the Faculty of Management Enterprenureship as well as a Faculty of Technology at the Training College at Meepe, to expand training streams for teachers. 

• Double the grant of Rs. 500,000 given to each Pirivena, in order to upgrade Pirivena education facilities

Higher Education and Research

• A hostel construction program for 25,000 students on an accelerated basis

• A proposal to increase the Mahapola Scholarship monthly allowance to Rs. 4,000 per student from January 2016

• A proposal to allocate Rs. 1 billion to develop the necessary residential and research environments at the Post Graduate Institute for Pali and Buddhist Studies, to attract our scholarly monks, historians and research students to work together with foreign students and researchers

• A proposal to allocate Rs. 500 million for research on cancer by the Colombo University, on kidney diseases by the Peradeniya and Rajarata universities and on diabetics by the Ruhuna University and another Rs. 500 million to the National Research Council for research on other fields

Nenasala

• A proposal to allocate Rs. 1,000 million to set up a fully equipped Nanasala center at each such Grama Niladari division in 2015 

• To allocate Rs.500 million for research lab facilities, equipment and research work at field level by universities located at provinces, with successful ventures in dairy, poultry, aquaculture, food technology and handloom designing, household décor and gift item designing, to be provided to small entrepreneurs at village level through the Nenasala network.

Increasing Quality of teaching

• Allocate Rs.1,000 million for the 2 year full time teacher training programme within 5 years of recruitment

• A proposal to provide the rural and regional schools with teacher quarters, rest rooms etc & To allocate Rs.2,000 million. 

Upgrading Facilities

• Allocate Rs.4,000 million to provide proper sanitary facilities and water facilities to Primary and Secondary schools

• Schools without electricity to be provided with electricity either through the national grid or through solar power for which  propose to allocate Rs.2,000 million

• To allocate a sum of Rs.10,000 million to upgrade 3,577 primary schools in the country with the required facilities within the medium term action plan. 

• 1,000 secondary schools will also be provided with other facilities such as activity rooms, laboratories, multimedia facilities, libraries with e-library facility for which propose to allocate Rs.15,000 million.  

• upgrade 25 schools in the plantation sector to secondary level for which  propose to allocate Rs.250 million

• A proposal to allocate Rs.450 million to improve science education in schools which has no permanent laboratories

•  Allocate Rs.250 million to improve  dental health facilities in schools

Mahapola University

• Establish a university named Mahapola University located at Malabe. This university will focus on teaching subjects such as ICT, Business Studies, English, Management and other new market oriented subjects. Propose to allocate a sum of Rs.3,000 million for this purpose.   

• Proposed to provide laptops for university students on an interest free 3 year loan. Also free wi-fi zones will be provided for all universities. Propose to allocate Rs. 300 million for this purpose

Upgrading Facilities

• Rs. 21,000 million, allocated to provide basic facilities such as, classrooms, laboratories and libraries in primary and secondary schools

• Proposed to allocate a further Rs. 5,000 million for infrastructure development, which includes the provision of laboratory equipment and furniture for schools.

• Proposed to allocate Rs. 3,000 million with  an additional sum of Rs. 2,000 million to fulfil the basic facilities such as Water, Electricity and Sanitation facilities

• Proposed to allocate Rs. 5,000 million to provide free Tabs for almost 175,000 students who enter the Advanced Level (AL) classes and around 28,000 A/L teachers from 2017

• Proposed to allow schools to rent a maximum of 50 computers each, for which proposed to allocate Rs. 5,000 million.

• Proposed to allocate Rs. 250 million to upgrade a further 25 plantation schools, in addition to the 25 plantation schools mainly in the districts of Kegalle and Badulla

• Proposed to allocate Rs. 30 million for “Subhaga” scholarship scheme which is supporting students in the country who are gifted with extraordinary skills, ranging from excelling in sports, arts, inventions, etc

Higher Education

• Proposed to allocate Rs. 500 million to increase the number of students from 160 to 300 in  Ruhuna University Medical Faculty at Karapitiya

• Proposed to initiate a scholarship scheme to enable the undergraduate students of the 17 state universities who are the top 3 in the faculties of Engineering, Medicine, Bio and Physical Science, Accountancy, Finance and Law to be given scholarships at top universities around the world such as Harvard, MIT, Oxford, Cambridge, NUS etc, to follow post graduate studies up to PhD level . Proposed to  allocate Rs. 500 million for this

The Sri Lankan government, in 2018, wanted to improve education by offering more funds to schools, universities, and vocational training institutions. The thought was to help students study more and become better qualified for careers in the future.

Money for Education

• Schools

• More money to improve schools, especially in rural districts.

• Free meals, textbooks, and uniforms for students.

• Better training and higher salaries for teachers.

• Universities

• More funding for universities to upgrade classrooms and research.

• New programs to help students get jobs upon graduation.

• More scholarships and student loans to help finance education.

• Vocational Training (Job Training)

• More job training facilities for students not in university.

• Training in information technology, tourism, and construction to meet the needs of employment.

• More assistance for students acquiring practical skills.

• Success or Problems

• Free Education

• Free education was sustained by the government for all students.

• Some schools had bad buildings and poor teachers.

• Digital Learning

• More intelligent classrooms and online lessons.

• Some schools in rural areas did not have computers and internet, so studies were difficult.

• Scholarships and Student Loans

• More students were given financial aid to study.

• Some students took a long time for scholarships and loans.

• School and University Improvements

• New classrooms, laboratories, and libraries were built.

• More courses in science, maths, and technology were available.

• Some schools still did not have good teachers and newer books.

• Future Changes and Modifications Needed

• More Education Online: Enhanced computer and internet facilities for students.

• Better Job Training: Career-finding courses for students.

• Enhancing Universities: More research, advanced-level courses, and employment-based education.

• Transforming the Education System: Enhanced lessons, teacher education, and greater practical education.

The government of Sri Lanka allotted more money in 2019 to upgrade schools, universities, and vocational training programs. The intention was to make the students study better and find improved employment opportunities in the future.

Education Funds

Schools

• Increased funds to improve schools, especially in the rural sector.

• Free school uniform, books, and lunches for children.

• Enhanced teacher training and salaries.

• Universities

• Increased funds for research in universities and new courses.

• More scholarships and student loans.

• Upgrade plans for hostels and buildings in universities.

• Vocational Training (Job Training)

• More training facilities for students who do not go to university.

• IT, tourism, and construction courses to create employment opportunities for students.

• More support for skill-based training.

• Success or Problems

• Free Education

• Education remained free for students.

• There were still some schools that did not have enough teachers and proper classrooms.

• Digital Learning

• More smart classrooms and online classes.

• Some rural schools did not have computers or the internet, and this made learning difficult.

• Scholarships and Loans

• There were more students receiving financial support for study.

• It took a long time for some students to get loans and scholarships.

• Changes in the Schools and Universities

• New libraries, classrooms, and science laboratories were built.

• Increased focus on English, science, and technology learning.

• Better teacher training programs.

• Changes Needed in the Future and Required

• More Online Learning: Better internet and computers for students.

• Improved Job Training: Additional training courses to place students in jobs.

• Universities Improved: More research, modern courses, and work-based learning.

• Education Reforms: Lessons in schools updated, teacher training, and learning made more applied.

The Sri Lankan government invested more in schools, universities, and vocational training courses in 2020. The reason was to allow students to learn more and gain better employment in the future.

Funds for Education

• Schools

• Additional funds to develop schools, especially in rural regions.

• Free uniforms, textbooks, and meals for students.

• Better training and higher salaries for teachers.

• Universities

• Additional funds to develop universities and research programs.

• More scholarships and student loans.

• Plans for renovation of university buildings and hostels.

• Vocational Training (Job Training)

• More job training schools for non-university attending students.

• IT, tourism, and construction courses to allow students to gain employment.

• More assistance for skills training.

• Success or Problems

• Free Education

• Continuation of free education for students.

• Still, there is a shortage of teachers and classrooms in certain schools.

• Digital Learning

• More online classes and smart classrooms.

• Many rural schools had no internet or computers, which made it difficult to learn.

• Scholarships and Student Loans

• More students benefited from financial support for education.

• There was a long delay in some students getting scholarships and loans.

• Improvements in Schools and Universities

• New classrooms, libraries, and science labs were built.

• More focus on English, science, and technology education.

• Better teacher training programs.

• Future Plans and Changes Needed

• More Online Learning: Better internet and computers for students.

• Better Job Training: More courses to help students get jobs.

• Improved Universities: More research, new courses, and work-based learning.

• Reforms in Education: Updating school curriculum, training teachers, and making education work-oriented.

• 
  

• Sri Lankan Budget 2021 – Education

• The Sri Lankan government made the development of education a priority in 2021 by investing more in schools, universities, and vocational training programs. The objective was to make students learn more and be ready for their future jobs.

• Funds for Education

• Schools

• More funds were provided to develop schools, especially in rural areas.

• Free uniforms, textbooks, and meals for students.

• Increased training and higher pay for teachers to attract and retain good teachers.

• Universities

• Increased funding to improve university facilities and research.

• More scholarships and financial aid for students.

• New courses were introduced to meet the demands of the job market.

• Vocational Training (Job Training)

• Increased funding to improve job training facilities.

• IT, tourism, and construction courses to allow students to become employed.

• Training programs were created to meet what is needed by employers.

• Success or Problems

• Free Education

• Free education for school students continued.

• There were still a few schools that lacked sufficient teachers and facilities.

• Digital Learning

• There were additional smart classrooms and online learning programs being implemented.

• There were some regions with problems of internet accessibility and technology.

• Scholarships and Student Loans

• There were additional scholarships and loans to support students in their education.

• There were some students who had to wait for financial support, which delayed their studies.

• Improvements in Schools and Universities

• New classrooms, libraries, and science labs were built to improve learning conditions.

• More focus on English, science, and technology education.

• Increased teacher training programs.

• Future Plans and Changes Needed

• More Online Learning: Better internet and digital equipment for students.

• Better Job Training: More courses to allow students to get jobs easily.

• Improving Universities: More research funding and newer job-oriented programs.

• Changes in Education: Modernization of lessons, more teacher training, and practical learning.

• Funds for Education

• Schools

• More funds were provided to develop schools, especially in rural areas.

• Free uniforms, textbooks, and meals for students.

• Increased training and higher pay for teachers to attract and retain good teachers.

• Universities

• Increased funding to improve university facilities and research.

• More scholarships and financial aid for students.

• New courses were introduced to meet the demands of the job market.

• Vocational Training (Job Training)

• Increased funding to improve job training facilities.

• IT, tourism, and construction courses to allow students to become employed.

• Training programs were created to meet what is needed by employers.

• Success or Problems

• Free Education

• Free education for school students continued.

• There were still a few schools that lacked sufficient teachers and facilities.

• Digital Learning

• There were additional smart classrooms and online learning programs being implemented.

• There were some regions with problems of internet accessibility and technology.

• Scholarships and Student Loans

• There were additional scholarships and loans to support students in their education.

• There were some students who had to wait for financial support, which delayed their studies.

• Improvements in Schools and Universities

• New classrooms, libraries, and science labs were built to improve learning conditions.

• More focus on English, science, and technology education.

• Increased teacher training programs.

• Future Plans and Changes Needed

• More Online Learning: Better internet and digital equipment for students.

• Better Job Training: More courses to allow students to get jobs easily.

• Improving Universities: More research funding and newer job-oriented programs.

• Changes in Education: Modernization of lessons, more teacher training, and practical learning.

Education Funding

Schools

• More money was spent to improve school buildings and amenities.

• Teachers and principals were given higher salaries to motivate them.

• Universities

• More money was allocated for university research and study courses.

• More scholarships were provided to students to allow them to fund their education.

• Vocational Training (Job Training)

• More money was spent on job training to allow students to learn skills that are applicable in the job market.

• Vocational students received a monthly stipend to allow them to continue studying.

• Success or Problems

• Free Education

• Free education continued to be provided for students in schools.

• There were still some schools that lacked enough teachers and facilities.

• Digital Learning

• More smart classrooms and e-learning were introduced.

• Some areas still had issues with internet access and technology.

• Scholarships and Student Loans

• There was more to offer in terms of scholarships and financial aid to students.

• Some students had delays with scholarships or loans.

• Upgrades to Schools and Universities

• New classrooms, libraries, and labs were built.

• There was a focus on English instruction, science, and technology to make students internationally competitive.

• Changes and Future Plans Needed

• More Online Learning: More internet access and digital tools for students.

• Better Job Training: More job training opportunities that match what employers need.

• Improved Universities: More research money and employment-focused programs.

• Reforms in Education: Redesigned curriculum, teacher education, and experiential learning.

Funds for Education

Schools

• More money was spent to improve school buildings and infrastructure.

• Teachers and principals were given more money to motivate them.

• Universities

• More money was spent on research and development at universities.

• More scholarships were provided to fund the education charges of students.

• Vocational Training (Job Training)

• More funds were allocated to job training to equip students with useful skills in the job market.

• Vocational students received a stipend monthly to allow them to pursue their studies.

• Success or Problems

• Free Education

• Free education continued to function in schools for both primary and secondary students.

• Some schools continued to experience issues with no teachers or facilities.

• Digital Learning

• More intelligent classrooms and e-learning initiatives were introduced.

• Some locations still had poor internet connectivity and technology.

• Scholarships and Student Loans

• More scholarships and aid were given to students.

• Some students had a delay in receiving their financial aid.

• Improvements in Schools and Universities

• New libraries, classrooms, and labs were opened to improve the learning process.

• Efforts were made in teaching English, science, and technology to make students competitive worldwide.

• Future Plans and Changes Needed

• More Online Learning: Increase internet availability and provide students with digital learning tools.

• Better Job Training: Offer more job training programs in compliance with the needs of employers.

• Strengthening Universities: Spend more on research and focus on employment-oriented programs.

• Education Reforms: Reshape lessons, offer training to teachers, and offer practical learning experience.

• All these changes will improve Sri Lankan education and allow students to reach their future goals.

Money for Education

Schools

• More money was invested to improve school buildings and facilities.

• Salaries of preschool teachers were raised to encourage early education.

• Universities

• Additional funds were released to allow meritorious students to pursue studies abroad.

• University students' scholarships were increased by the government to cover education costs.

• Vocational Training (Job Training)

• The monthly stipend of vocational students was increased to Rs. 5,000 to help them during studies.

• Success or Problems

• Free Education

• Free education for primary and secondary school students was still in progress.

• Some schools still had a shortage of adequate teachers or equipment.

• More smart classes and e-learning initiatives were made available to aid students.

• Some access issues still existed to the internet in rural areas.

• Scholarships and Student Loans

• There were increased scholarships to help students finance university.

• Some students still took longer to get their financial aid.

• Improvements in Schools and Universities

• New classrooms, libraries, and labs were built to enhance learning.

• There was greater focus on studying English, science, and technology.

• Future Plans and Changes Required

• More Online Education: Provide access to the internet and provide virtual learning materials to students.

• Increased Job Training: Increase more job-specific employer-matched training courses.

• Better Universities: Spend more on research and job-specific courses.

• Reformations in Education: Upgrade lectures, instructor courses, and project-based learning to prepare students for the future.

• These are plans designed to improve Sri Lanka's education and allow students to succeed in school and professionally.