News
Teachers alarmed by rising school dropout rate
800 rural schools already closed
by Rathindra Kuruwita
School dropout rate and absenteeism are on the rise due to the economic crisis and the government burdening parents with expenses borne by the state in the past, says Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) General Secretary, Joseph Stalin.
Stalin told The Island yesterday that by November 2023, about 800 schools in rural areas had been closed and many more would face closure if the government did not increase investment in the education sector.
“According to the 2021 school census report, which is the latest we have, there are 10,146 government schools. Out of that 2,971 are schools with fewer than 101 students. About 2,175 have about 101 to 200 students. There are 3,095 schools with fewer than 10 teachers. This was the situation before the onset of the economic crisis in 2022 and the adoption of the IMF-prescribed austerity measures.
Stalin said school attendance had dropped significantly, especially in schools with fewer than 200 students.
“This is mainly because parents can’t afford children’s education anymore.
Education officials claim that schools are closing because the overall birth rate is dropping by a very small amount. However, ask teachers or principals and they will tell you that most children dropout because the government is making parents pay for the services previously provided by the state free of charge. Schools collect money from parents for almost everything and only the underprivileged parents send their children to schools that have fewer than 200 students.”
Stalin said that dropout rate and absenteeism had not peaked yet, and he feared that the numbers would grow exponentially in the coming years unless remedial action was taken urgently.
“In Sri Lanka, all parents want their children to sit at least the GCE O/L examination. Most of them want their children to enter university. They sell their valuable to enable their children to receive a good education, but they have been left without anything to sell. In a report issued in 2020, on the performance of the government schools, the National Audit Office warned that the number of students was decreasing in at least 5,161 schools that had fewer than 200 students. We will soon see this happening unless steps are taken.”
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill to amend the State Mortgage and Investment Bank Law No. 13 of 1975
By Cabinet decision dated 2025-12-01, policy approval was granted to amend the definition of the term “animal” in the Animals Act No. 29 of 1958 by including, pigs, goats, and sheep, in addition to cattle and buffaloes, within the interpretation section of the act.
In accordance with the said approval, the Legal Draftsman has drafted an Amended Bill in all three languages, and the clearance of the Attorney General has also been obtained.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the
resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation to publish the draft Amendment Bill in the Government Gazette and thereafter to submit the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
News
Cabinet approves establishment of a ‘Trust’ to carry out the management of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre
The Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre, comprising 11 floors, has been constructed with the assistance of the Government of India with the objective of serving as a hub for cultural activities in Sri Lanka and expanding bilateral cooperation for the promotion, preservation, and fostering the cultural heritage of Jaffna.
In accordance with the approval granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 2022-02-21, a Joint Management Committee has been appointed to make decisions relating to the affairs of the said cultural centre, in terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed for the operation of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre.
According to the provisions of the aforementioned MOU, upon completion of the construction of the project, the cultural centre should be transferred to the Jaffna Municipal Council through the Government of Sri Lanka.
Following such transfer, the relevant parties have reached an agreement to establish a ‘trust’ for carrying out the management activities of the centre. The Attorney General’s clearance has been received for the draft trust deed prepared for that purpose.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs to establish the trust to continue the management activities of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre
Eshan Malinga keeps getting them in the second half
State Mortgage and Investment Bank Law No. 13 of 1975 to be amended
Animals Act No. 29 of 1958 amended
Cabinet approves establishment of a ‘Trust’ to carry out the management of the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre
Prime Minister Keir Starmer under pressure as ministers quit, 80 MPs urge him to resign
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