Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has revealed that approximately 20,000 children drop out of school each year in Sri Lanka, citing data from the Ministry of Education.
Dr. Amarasuriya made the remarks during a special discussion held on July 7 at the Archbishop’s official residence in Colombo.
The discussion, which brought together senior members of the Catholic clergy including His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, was convened to raise awareness about the sweeping reforms set to be implemented from 2026.
The Prime Minister outlined the core objectives of the reforms, which include instilling moral values in students, providing pathways for school leavers into vocational training, and ultimately enabling every child to contribute meaningfully to the national economy.
A key component of the new framework is the integration of vocational education within the school system itself.
Students will have the opportunity to gain specialised training in areas such as agriculture, fisheries, electrical engineering, and automobile repair — sectors often overlooked in traditional academic trajectories but vital to the country’s development.
Cardinal Ranjith welcomed the initiative and stressed the need for an education system that nurtures each student’s talents while equipping them with the technological skills required for future employment.
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