No child should miss education due to poverty – Prime Minister

1 February 2026 06:19 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 5 Bookmark

A A A

Colombo, Feb. 1 (Daily Mirror) - Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said that all government strategic plans must be designed to ensure that no child in Sri Lanka is deprived of vocational or higher education due to economic hardship.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing a workshop on budget formulation and strategic planning of institutions affiliated with the vocational education sector, held at the Grand Monarch. The workshop was organized with the participation of heads and senior officials of nine institutions, including two universities linked to the vocational education sector.

She emphasized the importance of aligning the development plans of key institutions and their affiliates with the National Economic Development Plan. While acknowledging that vocational institutions produce skilled professionals, the Prime Minister stressed that education reforms must also nurture compassion, empathy, ethical values and care for others, with the aim of developing professionals enriched with humanity.

The Prime Minister further said that it is the government’s responsibility to expand access to vocational education for children facing economic disadvantages, enabling them to secure a stable future.

Attention was also drawn to the impact of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution on the future of vocational education. Dr. Amarasuriya observed that there is still no comprehensive global understanding of how AI is reshaping the world of work and vocational fields, stressing that integrating vocational education into the mainstream education system through reforms is now an urgent necessity.

She cautioned that while the AI revolution is often driven by profit, Sri Lanka must ensure it is not marginalized, as occurred during previous industrial revolutions. While technology enables online teaching and learning, the Prime Minister highlighted that its impact remains limited in professions requiring human care and compassion, such as childcare and caregiving, underscoring the importance of soft skills and a human-centered approach.

Discussions also focused on creating flexible pathways that allow students to progress through vocational education up to doctoral level, as well as opportunities for lateral entry while being employed. Maintaining high standards and quality alongside such flexibility was identified as essential to preserving the credibility of the education system.

Comments - 5

Jayampathi Gunasekera Sunday, 01 February 2026 07:09 PM

Madam Prime Minister, Poverty has got widespread in Sri Lanka because of past leaders. Tax department has not been computerised linking the accounting system of businessmen. Collusion of tax consultants with tax department staff has denied the government of revenue. Further, there is no government authority monitoring new billionaires to identify their actual source of income. Seeing the lifestyle of people, it is surprising that sufficient tax is not being collected. Frauds at customs has been overlooked by governments. There should be no poverty if these leakages are fixed.

0 2

FERNANDO Sunday, 01 February 2026 08:47 PM

Namal is after your job

1 1

Lol Monday, 02 February 2026 04:30 AM

Far fetched dream indeed! Bring the cost of living down in the first place. In a family of more than one child, most cannot even afford education upto secondary level! High time you came down to earth Lady!!

3 1

RanjithT Monday, 02 February 2026 05:51 AM

No child should mis education for ANY reason. Not even to satisfy the sinister moves of so called progressive politicians who used school children as bait.

2 1

Sambo Monday, 02 February 2026 08:16 AM

Those who did not get a proper education or even go a school that are now suffering and depending the government for everything free which cannot be given these days and they are a burden to the government. So please educate your child so he will not be a burden to the country.

2 0

222

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.