Sri Lanka plans to introduce national Sri Lanka Standards (SLS) for preschools and early childhood development centres in 2027 as part of a broader initiative to strengthen early childhood education, Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savithri Paulraj announced.
Describing 2027 as a transformative year for the sector, the Minister made the announcement while chairing a ministry review meeting to assess progress during 2026 and establish strategic priorities for the coming year.
As part of efforts to improve early childhood nutrition, education and care, the Government is preparing to implement the National Policy on Preschool Education during the first half of 2027.
The policy is being developed by the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development in collaboration with the National Institute of Education. At the same time, work is underway with the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) to establish national standards for preschools and childcare centres.
The Ministry has also scheduled the next phase of the Step-Up Programme for 2027. Launched earlier this year in partnership with the Clean Sri Lanka initiative and the Health Promotion Bureau, the programme aims to promote positive attitudes and encourage healthy behavioural development among preschool children.
Minister Paulraj further noted that efforts to establish early childhood education as a formal and structured stage of the education system are expected to reach a significant milestone next year.
The initiative began in 2025 with the introduction of the National Curriculum Framework for Early Childhood Education, laying the groundwork for further reforms in the sector.
