June 22, Colombo (LNW): Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya has called for swift and strategic measures to confront a growing crisis in Sri Lanka’s education system, highlighting an acute shortage of more than 42,000 teachers across national and provincial schools.
Speaking during a high-level meeting with the Cabinet-appointed Task Force for Digital Education Transformation, she underscored the urgent need for innovation to bridge the widening educational divide.
In response to the teacher shortfall, Dr Amarasuriya proposed the rapid deployment of digital learning systems to ensure continuity in education delivery.
She recommended that a comprehensive framework for digital instruction be introduced within the next six months, with the aim of optimising existing resources and minimising disruptions to student learning.
The meeting centred on accelerating digital transformation in the school system for students in Grades 6 to 13. Participants discussed both immediate and long-term strategies for integrating technology in classrooms, revising outdated policies, and addressing barriers to implementation—including regional disparities in infrastructure and access.
Dr Amarasuriya also stressed that the initiative must include specific provisions for students with disabilities, ensuring equitable access to learning tools and digital platforms. According to the Prime Minister, inclusivity must be a foundational principle in shaping any nationwide education reform.
She further emphasised the importance of creating a strong, multi-sectoral task force composed of educators, technologists, policymakers, and social advocates to oversee and guide the reform process.
The task force, she said, must ensure that digital education reforms do not simply benefit well-resourced urban schools but instead uplift all students regardless of geography or socioeconomic background.
