Sri Lanka's Education Minister Bans Unauthorised External Programs in State Schools

Sri Lanka's Minister of Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, has issued a directive prohibiting all state schools from implementing external programs or initiatives without official government or Ministry of Education approval. The announcement was made during a special progress review meeting held on June 17 with education officials and school principals in the North Central Province. Dr. Amarasuriya emphasised that no private organisations or external parties may voluntarily introduce unauthorised programs or seminars within the state school system, underscoring the government's commitment to maintaining the integrity and quality of national educational standards.

The Minister highlighted the government's substantial financial and labour commitment to providing quality free education to the nation's youth, stressing that educational authorities must base all administrative decisions on the principle of ensuring students receive only the best educational experiences. She also addressed the challenges facing schools following recent natural disasters, particularly the severe damage caused by recent flooding and cyclones, noting the urgent need to reconstruct affected school buildings while maintaining educational continuity.

In a significant announcement, Dr. Amarasuriya revealed that Sri Lanka will undertake its largest and most systematic teacher recruitment initiative in the country's history during 2026. The comprehensive recruitment drive will bring approximately 30,000 teachers into government service, comprising 23,000 qualified university graduates, 6,100 newly trained teachers from national teacher training institutes, and university-educated professionals. This major staffing initiative aims to address long-standing teacher shortages across the nation.

The Minister also outlined plans to address systemic challenges within the education sector by rapidly filling vacancies in the Sri Lanka Education Administration Service and the Teacher Advisory Service. The government is implementing technical solutions to streamline teacher transfers and resolve data management issues across the entire education system. These coordinated efforts reflect the administration's commitment to strengthening institutional capacity and educational service delivery nationwide.