Opposition signs No-Confidence Motion against Education Minister

January 7, 20261 Mins read153

The Opposition has initiated the signing of a No-Confidence Motion against Education Minister Harini Amarasuriya.

The No-Confidence Motion is being brought in view of the numerous errors related to subject matter and inappropriate content in the current government’s education reforms, as well as the failure to address these issues in a responsible manner.

The signing took place at the Opposition Leader’s Office in Parliament under the leadership of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa placed the first signature on the No-Confidence Motion.

Meanwhile, Amarasuriya told Parliament that the controversial Grade 6 English module has been removed following a recommendation by the academic advisory board of the National Institute of Education (NIE).

“Given the controversy and our assessment also that it is inappropriate, immediately after this came to our knowledge, this particular module was sealed and not delivered to the children. We have obtained approval from the National Institute of Education’s academic advisory board to remove this lesson. This was the recommendation of the ministry which was submitted to the academic advisory board, and this was approved and this lesson will be removed,” she noted.

Amarasuriya made this observation in response to a question raised by opposition member of parliament (MP) Nizam Kariapper.

Addressing concerns about student privacy, she said there was no violation of child privacy in the module and that Sri Lanka follows internationally accepted standards on child protection and data privacy.

“The activity highlighted in the Grade 6 English module in no way directs students to provide their personal information to any party. The activity concerned is a reading activity where the students are expected to read three simple paragraphs on three hypothetical characters—one boy and two girls who have been presented as from England, Japan and India respectively—and to provide certain specific information mentioned in paragraphs in the given space.”