Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa emphasized that education reforms must guarantee inclusivity and recognize education as a fundamental human right, not merely a service or privilege.
Speaking in Parliament during the education reform debate, Premadasa stressed the need for a strong conceptual framework, criticizing the government for lacking clear policy documents such as green or white papers.
He noted that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has already developed a comprehensive education reform framework, presented as part of a broader social contract in previous elections.
Premadasa warned that Sri Lanka’s current education system is outdated and inefficient, causing significant injustice to students, and insisted that education, healthcare, and livelihoods should be enshrined as fundamental rights in any constitutional reform.
He criticized the government’s proposals for lacking clarity on implementation strategies, timelines, and measurable outcomes, and for neglecting key areas such as pre-school education, rural schools, and STEM subjects.
Highlighting the importance of modernizing education, Premadasa called for integrating emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, data science, quantum computing, and machine learning into the curriculum.
He advocated shifting from rote learning to a system that promotes critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students.
Premadasa also recommended expanding English-medium education across all schools to strengthen proficiency in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM).
Expressing concerns about teacher welfare and infrastructure, he stressed the need for a clear plan to train over 240,000 teachers, stating reforms cannot succeed without addressing these fundamental issues.
He further insisted that History must be made a compulsory subject, given its vital role in shaping national identity and values.
Premadasa concluded by calling for the elimination of inequality in education, emphasizing that every child, regardless of background, deserves equal access to a truly free and inclusive education system.
