Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya says the government plans to introduce reforms in the higher education sector in line with the new changes being implemented in primary and secondary education.
Responding to questions raised in Parliament by MP Manjula Sugath Rathnayaka, the Prime Minister stated that a special expert committee appointed to review the sector has been functioning over the past six months.
According to the Prime Minister’s Media Division, the committee’s report will be used to identify existing issues in higher education and implement the necessary reforms.
Dr. Amarasuriya revealed that 281,810 students sat for the 2025 G.C.E. Advanced Level Examination, with 176,538 qualifying for university admission. Of them, 42,937 students are expected to be admitted to universities.
She also stated that while maintaining education quality, the government is prioritising improvements to university facilities and has decided to maintain first-degree admission intake levels at the same standard as previous years.
The Prime Minister further announced that a new Geographic Information Systems course has been introduced at the University of Ruhuna, while the University of Peradeniya has launched a course in Electronic and Intelligent Systems Engineering for the 2025/2026 academic year. Fifty students are expected to be enrolled in each programme.
She noted that steps have already been completed to release cut-off marks and forward registration lists to the relevant universities.
Responding to a separate question raised by MP K. Kader Mastan regarding preschool education, the Prime Minister said that since most preschools are operated by the private sector, the government currently has no provision to provide permanent appointments or salaries to preschool staff.
However, she said steps are being taken to provide allowances to volunteer teachers in selected preschools managed under Provincial Councils.
Dr. Amarasuriya further stated that by 2027, the entire preschool education system is expected to undergo comprehensive reforms through joint efforts by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs.
She added that a national policy to regulate preschool education is scheduled to be introduced in 2026 based on recommendations made by the National Education Commission.
The policy will include teacher guidelines, model activity manuals, and provincial-level teacher training programmes.
Commenting on volunteer teachers, the Prime Minister stressed that the Cabinet decision dated January 4, 2007, to limit recruitment beyond the approved 4,700 teacher aides will continue to be implemented.
