Educational reforms for grade 6 to begin in 2027: Parliamentary committee

Colombo, March 18 (Daily Mirror) - Concrete steps are being taken to initiate educational reforms for Grade 6 in 2027, while the progress of the new education reform process for Grade 1 is being closely monitored, officials said at a Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Education Reforms meeting yesterday.

The session, held at Parliament under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, focused on reviewing the current progress of the education reform initiatives and planning the way forward.

Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa said monitoring of the Grade 1 reforms introduced in 2026 will continue in the coming months. He added that activity-based textbooks for the second and third terms of Grade 1 are being finalized for printing, with practical activity books for the second term scheduled for distribution to students after the April school vacation.

Officials also highlighted ongoing efforts in teacher training and the training of trainers, noting that all modules relevant to Grade 6 are under careful review by specialized committees.

A special committee, including international education experts, has been appointed to provide recommendations on evaluation and assessment. These experts are expected to visit Sri Lanka soon.

In line with Presidential instructions, a Cabinet paper has been submitted to establish a National Steering Committee on Education, with plans to form district- and divisional-level committees in due course.

The meeting was attended by members of both the Government and Opposition, alongside officials from the Ministries of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education.