October 10, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka is preparing to introduce a new initiative to improve students’ safety and well-being in the digital environment, with age-specific internet safety guidelines set to undergo pilot testing in November.
The guidelines have been developed to address the different online risks and digital needs of children across five age groups, recognising that students require appropriate levels of guidance and protection as they grow older and become more familiar with technology.
The proposed initiative was discussed at a meeting of the Volunteer Advisory Council of the Ministry of Education, held at Parliament under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya.
The programme is expected to provide a structured approach to helping students navigate the internet more safely, while promoting responsible digital behaviour and greater awareness of potential online threats. Its pilot phase will offer an opportunity to assess how effectively the guidelines can be applied before any wider implementation is considered.
The meeting also reviewed progress on the Government’s ongoing education reforms, with the Prime Minister confirming that the Cabinet had approved several policy proposals intended to support changes across the education system.
Among the approved measures are the education reform concept paper prepared by the National Education Commission and two key frameworks developed by the National Institute of Education: the revised National Curriculum Framework and the Student Assessment Framework covering Grades 1 to 11.
These initiatives aim to modernise education, improve the relevance of classroom learning and strengthen the way students’ academic progress is evaluated. The revised frameworks are expected to provide direction for curriculum development and assessment practices as the reform process advances.
Dr Amarasuriya also informed the council that a subcommittee had been established to examine ways of improving quality assurance across both public and private education institutions.
Strengthening oversight in both sectors is considered important to maintaining consistent educational standards, ensuring accountability and improving the quality of learning opportunities available to students.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Education Dr Madhura Seneviratne said specialised committees had been appointed to develop policies for higher education in engineering, medicine and agriculture.
The committees are expected to address the specific requirements of these professional disciplines, helping shape policies that respond to changing educational needs and the demands of the respective fields.
The discussions reflect the Government’s broader efforts to advance education reform at several levels, from protecting schoolchildren in an increasingly connected world to revising national curricula, improving assessment methods and strengthening specialised higher education.
The planned digital safety pilot will be a particularly important step in determining how age-appropriate guidance can be incorporated into students’ educational experiences, as schools and families face growing challenges associated with internet use and online engagement.
