The Government has decided to defer the implementation of the proposed education reforms relating to Grade 6 until 2027, Cabinet Spokesman and Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced.
The decision was taken at the Cabinet meeting held under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in view of concerns surrounding the Grade 6 English module and several related issues.
Addressing the weekly Cabinet media briefing, Dr. Jayatissa said the decision followed investigations carried out by the Criminal Investigation Department and the Ministry of Education into the controversial English module. Based on the findings of these reports, the Governing Board of the National Institute of Education is expected to initiate disciplinary action against the officials responsible, he said.
The Cabinet has also decided to allow additional time to further review the Grade 6 curriculum and address concerns related to its content and implementation.
The Minister emphasized that the education reform programme is structured around five key pillars: human resource development, infrastructure and administrative reforms, assessment and evaluation, curriculum development, and public awareness. While the Grade 6 reforms will be postponed, reforms planned under these pillars for Grade 1 students will proceed as scheduled this year.
Dr. Jayatissa further noted that certain groups have attempted to exploit the issue for personal gain, creating unnecessary controversy within society. He stressed that the Government firmly believes education reforms cannot be advanced in an environment where there is even minimal misunderstanding or erosion of public trust.
“Education is an extremely important and sensitive sector in our country,” the Minister said, adding that parents and education professionals naturally pay close attention to any changes in the system. He noted that parents aspire to provide their children with a better future through quality education, a value deeply rooted in Sri Lankan society.
However, he acknowledged that due to policies adopted by successive governments, the education system has fallen into a serious crisis, a reality now widely recognised. He pointed out that school curricula have not been updated for nearly a decade, underscoring the need for comprehensive and carefully planned reforms to meet the demands of the modern world.
“This is not a discussion that began yesterday,” Dr. Jayatissa said, noting that even prior to assuming office, the National People’s Power government had consistently advocated education reforms and prepared plans accordingly. He added that education was given high priority during both the presidential and parliamentary elections, and that the electorate has given a clear mandate for the reforms the Government intends to implement in the education sector.
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