Malwatta Mahanayake Thero questions conflicting demand over education reforms

By Shane Seneviratne  

The Mahanayake Thero of the Malwatta Chapter, Most Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thero, yesterday questioned the demand for the immediate implementation of the proposed education reforms, noting that the Government itself has acknowledged shortcomings in the reform proposals.   

Speaking at a meeting with representatives of the Parents’ Collective, the Mahanayake Thero pointed out that several senior officials responsible for drafting the proposed reforms had been interdicted and that the Government has postponed the implementation of the reforms by one year.   

Representatives of the Parents’ Collective met the Mahanayake Thero to hand over a memorandum requesting his intervention regarding the implementation of the education reforms.   

“The Government has postponed the proposed education reforms by one year, which clearly indicates that shortcomings in the proposals have been acknowledged. In such a situation, it is questionable that one group is demanding the withdrawal of the reforms while another is calling for their immediate implementation,” the Mahanayake Thero said.   

He further stressed that it is imperative that any education reforms be implemented only after wide consultation with educationists, scholars, university professors and veterans in the field of education.    Meanwhile, representatives of the Parents’ Collective stated that the education sector worldwide has undergone significant changes, with many new fields of study emerging. They emphasized that Sri Lanka’s traditional education system must be reformed in line with international standards to equip children to face future challenges.   

They maintained that attempts to introduce education reforms in response to current needs should not be sabotaged and expressed the view that the proposed education reforms should be implemented within the current year.   

Later, the representatives also met the Mahanayake Thero of the Asgiriya Chapter, Most Ven. Warakagoda Gnanarathana Thero.