Despite Sri Lanka’s proud tradition of free education at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, early childhood education remains a privilege many low-income families cannot afford, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a recent statement.
Citing the experiences of local educators and officials, HRW warned that the lack of free access to preschool education is effectively excluding children from underprivileged communities from one of the most critical stages of learning.
“In Sri Lanka, a preschool teacher reported to Human Rights Watch in 2025 that students must pay LKR 1,000 (approximately US$3.50) monthly,” HRW said. “When families cannot pay, children do not come ‘for some months,’ she said. In January 2025, only 3 out of 20 students in her class paid.”
An education officer interviewed by HRW further admitted, “If you can’t afford to pay, there is no space in the system… Only the families that have money can send their children to preschool.”
According to Sri Lanka’s 2018 National Census on Early Childhood Development Centres, only 19.8% of preschools are public, and a staggering 88.2% charge fees. The country’s National Policy on preschool education acknowledges that barriers to access include high tuition costs, limited availability, and a lack of awareness about the importance of early learning.
Early education, lasting impact
Internationally, pre-primary education is widely recognised for its role in developing cognitive, emotional, and social skills in children during their most formative years. “Quality pre-primary education builds the foundation for future learning,” HRW said, adding that the global trend is moving toward universal access.
In contrast, Sri Lanka’s enrolment figures remain worryingly low in poorer districts. Many families live below the international poverty line, under LKR 1,000 per day, and are thus excluded from early education opportunities.
One school manager told HRW that around 70% of students entering primary school in his region had no pre-primary education. “They struggle with basic learning tasks from the start,” he said, attributing this gap to their disadvantaged backgrounds.
Global models and the need for reform
HRW pointed to Ireland’s expansion of free preschool for all four-year-olds in 2010, which led to near-universal enrolment, as a potential model for Sri Lanka. The organisation also stressed that early education is particularly crucial for children with disabilities, noting that timely support can improve long-term outcomes and reduce stigma.
While the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals call for all children to have access to quality pre-primary education by 2030, Sri Lanka risks falling short unless urgent policy changes are made.
Despite the country’s 92% literacy rate, experts argue that the foundation for such achievement must be laid during early childhood, and that foundation remains deeply unequal.
Human Rights Watch is urging the Sri Lankan government to consider making early childhood education free and accessible to all, especially in rural and economically disadvantaged communities.
Without such reforms, they warn, a generation of children could begin their educational journey already left behind.
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