The World Bank on Thursday approved $100 million credit to improve Sri Lanka's education system, aimed at improving GCE and A level grades, with a particular focus on children in disadvantaged areas.
"Sri Lanka has made impressive progress in expanding access to education. However, to reach the status of an Upper Middle-Income Country, it needs to further improve the overall learning outcomes. Sri Lanka's education policy makers recognize that a high-quality general education system will enable students to meet the demands of 21st century jobs," the World Bank's Country Director for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Idah Z. Pswarayi-Riddihough said.
"We are happy to partner with the government to ensure that all children have the opportunity to gain foundational skills, especially in Mathematics and English, needed to participate in Sri Lanka's economic growth," she added.
Last month the Sri Lankan prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe said it would take at least ten years to improve education in the war affected Northern province. However, his comments were criticised by the Northern Provincial Council.
“If they really want to improve education in the North, the government should be implementing projects to see results in 2-5 years,” said C. V. K. Sivagnanam, the Chair of the Northern Provincial Council.
“Ranil [Wickremesinghe’s] claims that the North’s education will take 10 years to fix is just a delay tactic,” Mr Sivagnanam said, speaking to Tamil Guardian.
“What guarantee is there that governments after them will fulfil the plans? It’s doubtful,” he said.
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