The International Day of Education, declared by the United Nations (UN) to celebrate the role of education in peace and development, falls today (24 January). In its message for this day, the UN stated that education must be prioritised to accelerate progress towards reaching each of the Sustainable Development Goals against the backdrop of a global recession, growing inequalities, and the climate crisis. Additionally, it noted that without inclusive and equitable, high-quality education and lifelong opportunities for all, countries will not succeed in achieving gender equality and breaking the cycle of poverty that is leaving millions of children, youth, and adults behind.
During the past few years, especially in the contexts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic crisis, the education authorities discussed the importance of large-scale education sector reforms, and said that plans are afoot to achieve the same. However, a great deal of these reforms aim at changing curriculums and improving teaching methods, which are progressive, yet inadequate to help the country’s next generation to acclimatise to the prevailing socio-economic conditions.
Traditional education-sector reforms can no longer cater to Sri Lanka’s socio-economic needs, which have changed significantly during the past few years, and it is high time that Sri Lanka understands this new reality. On the one hand, Sri Lanka’s education system, especially primary and secondary education, was in need of updated international standards even before the prevailing crises broke out. On the other hand, in a context where the prevailing economic decline and the resultant issues are unlikely to be resolved anytime soon, a large share of the economic revival will be on the shoulders of the next generation, and they have to be ready for it.
The prevailing crises have given Sri Lanka an opportunity to go beyond traditional education-sector reforms. The system of education, which was designed to fulfil the needs of different socio-economic conditions, needs to evolve.
As the education authorities have also proposed that there is an increased need to promote information technology (IT)-related education, and in the current context, this field of education should focus on IT-based entrepreneurship and international trade. Paying more attention to English education and English medium education could also be greatly beneficial, especially due to the increased need for foreign employment which the Government also supports. In addition, improving vocational education in terms of subjects that are useful in export industries, foreign employment, and home-based and internet-based businesses, will certainly contribute to Sri Lanka’s economic revival in the medium term. What is more, the time is right to guide students to make more reasoned decisions with regard to higher education, as there is now an increased need for people that generate jobs, rather than those who seek jobs. While the higher education sector needs to pay attention to this aspect when designing or updating courses, students should also be encouraged to choose courses that improve not only their knowledge but financial stability.
In the coming few decades, Sri Lanka has to grapple with a number of issues such as increased poverty, social inequalities, the lack of access to services or inadequate services, and high inflation. The education sector should be able to produce competent citizens that could survive and overcome these challenges, and compassionate adults that help their fellow mankind who may not be as privileged.