As Sri Lanka joins the world in celebrating World Teachers’ Day today. This year’s theme, “The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage,” underscores the critical need for more teachers in the country.
With over 4.3 million school children to educate, Sri Lanka currently has just 247,000 government teachers, highlighting a stark mismatch in teacher-student ratios. The shortage of 45,000 teachers has posed significant challenges for the education sector, with trade unions pointing out disruptions in academic activities.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Ministry of Education has announced several measures to address the teacher shortage. Applications have been invited to recruit 5,450 teachers specializing in A/Level science, mathematics, and foreign languages. Additionally, the ministry plans to fill the gaps created by teachers who retired or resigned this year by hiring 4,000 more teachers. Furthermore, a decision has been made to recruit 542 academic graduates to bolster the teaching service.
