April 10, Colombo (LNW): In a bid to bolster English language education across the nation, the Sri Lankan Cabinet has approved the recruitment of 2,500 English teachers under the ‘English for All’ programme. This decision comes as part of a broader initiative to enhance English language proficiency among students and meet the growing demand for English medium education in schools.
Announcing the Cabinet’s decision, Cabinet Spokesman and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana revealed that the government aims to address the shortage of English teachers by recruiting additional personnel. Currently, there is a requirement for 6,500 English teachers to teach GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) subjects in English, while only 4,441 teachers have been approved for this purpose.
To bridge this gap, the proposal jointly submitted by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Education Minister Susil Premajayantha has been endorsed by the Cabinet. The plan entails increasing the number of approved English teachers to 6,500 by the year 2024, targeting the 765 schools where subjects are currently taught in the English medium. Additionally, the recruitment of 2,500 new English teachers will further support this initiative.
The ‘English for All’ programme underscores the government’s commitment to improving English language education nationwide, ensuring that students have access to quality language instruction and enhancing their opportunities for academic and professional success.
