December 30, Colombo (LNW): The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development has highlighted the severe impact of Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic crisis on children’s education, based on findings from the ‘Household Survey on the Impact of the Economic Crisis – 2023’, conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics.
According to the survey, over half of the schoolchildren in the country, approximately 55 per cent, have been affected by the economic downturn, with those living in rural and estate areas facing the most significant challenges.
The survey further revealed that a substantial proportion of affected families are struggling to provide essential educational materials for their children. Specifically, 53.2 per cent of children have either significantly reduced or entirely ceased purchasing school stationery.
Additionally, 26.1 per cent of students have been forced to reuse old stationery due to financial constraints, highlighting the hardships faced by many families.
In response to these findings, the government has announced a new initiative aimed at alleviating some of the pressures on vulnerable schoolchildren.
Starting from the beginning of the 2025 school year, an allowance will be provided to help cover the cost of essential school supplies, including stationery.
This move is part of a broader effort to ensure that children from financially struggling families can continue their education without interruption.
To begin with, the government has already allocated a Rs. 6,000 allowance per child for those from families receiving benefits under the ‘Aswesuma’ social welfare programme.
This allowance is set to be disbursed through ‘Aswesuma’ bank accounts by 27 December 2024, ensuring that the most vulnerable families can access the support without delay.
Looking ahead, the Ministry of Finance has assured that it will make the necessary budgetary provisions in 2025 to expand this initiative to other eligible schoolchildren, particularly those who are not currently part of the ‘Aswesuma’ programme.
The plan is to establish a clear and effective mechanism to deliver the Rs. 6,000 allowance per child, enabling more families to provide their children with the essential tools they need for their education.
