PM Amarasuriya says government aims to give every child the maximum benefits of education

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, said one of the Government’s primary objectives is to build an education system that enables every child to receive the maximum benefits of education.

She made the remarks while attending a ceremony to hand over a newly constructed two-storey building at Vijitha Primary School in Polonnaruwa to the students. Built with an investment of approximately Rs. 55 million from the Government, the building comprises eight primary classrooms.

Despite existing economic constraints and challenges, she said, the Government has commenced this process by allocating substantial financial resources to the education sector.

After the official handover, the Prime Minister engaged in a friendly interaction with the students and inspected the facilities in the new classrooms. She also directed her attention to academic and welfare issues affecting the conduct of teaching and learning activities at the school.

Implementing education reforms requires more than merely revising curricula, she said. It is equally important to develop the necessary infrastructure, provide teacher training and establish a suitable school environment. The Government would therefore implement the new curricula in stages, taking into consideration the preparedness of the school system.

Under the new education reforms, she said, the Government’s objective is to create a quality school environment where children can learn freely and happily, teachers can teach effectively, and the safety of children is ensured. Particular attention would be given to improving infrastructure in primary education, including classroom space, furniture and equipment.

As the country’s economic stability improves, the Government expects to place greater emphasis on sectors such as education and healthcare, she said. She also said the Government intends to allocate more funds for the implementation of education reforms in the coming year than it has allocated this year.

The Prime Minister said legal proceedings had commenced towards the establishment of an Education Council to ensure professionalism and quality in the education sector. She added that both school curricula and teacher education curricula at National Colleges of Education were being revised to produce teachers equipped to meet the requirements of the new education reforms.

The Government aims to transform the entire education system by addressing institutional issues, infrastructure deficiencies and human resource shortages, she said. A key responsibility of the education system, she stressed, is to nurture citizens equipped with knowledge, skills and positive values. The dedication of teachers, together with the support of parents and the wider community, is essential to achieving this goal, she said, adding that all stakeholders must work together to protect village schools and ensure that children have access to quality education.

The occasion was attended by Deputy Minister of Housing, Construction and Water Supply T. B. Sarath, Polonnaruwa District Member of Parliament Padmasiri Bandara, the Chairman and members of the Lankapura Pradeshiya Sabha, education officials, including the Additional Provincial Director of Education of the North Central Province, principals, teachers, parents and students.