A meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and representatives of teachers’ trade unions was held this afternoon (13) at the Presidential Secretariat.
During the discussion, trade union representatives said they accept the need for the new education reforms and highlighted the necessity of revising the Grade 6 curriculum. They also expressed their willingness to work collaboratively with the government in implementing the reform process.
The unions proposed that the reforms be carried out under a formal supervisory mechanism involving the National Education Commission, the National Institute of Education, educationists, lawyers, university academics and representatives of education-sector trade unions.
Emphasising that the success of education reforms depends on earning the trust of teachers and parents, President Dissanayake noted that meaningful transformation cannot take place amid suspicion or mistrust. He invited the trade unions to work closely with the government in implementing the new reforms.
Explaining the reform process, the President said Grade 1 reforms are proceeding as planned, while Grade 6 reforms are expected to begin in 2027 due to delays in module development, teacher training and certain technical challenges.
He further assured that infrastructure required for the reforms, including smart boards, televisions and computers, would be provided through government funding and not at the expense of parents.
The meeting also addressed issues related to inter-provincial teacher transfers, promotions, salary anomalies and challenges within the principals’ service.
