Courtesy The Daily Mirror

Colombo, Jamuary 15 (Daily Mirror) – The Ceylon Teachers Union (CTU) has criticized the government for attempting to implement proposed education reforms without following proper guidelines or consulting key stakeholders.

Addressing the media, CTU General Secretary Joseph Stalin said that meaningful discussions are essential when introducing educational reforms, but no such consultations were held. He noted that recent reforms were halted following a cabinet decision, after the CTU and several other parties raised concerns and requested the government to reconsider.

Currently, the ministry is only seeking the opinions of zonal education directors regarding the new reforms. Apart from presenting the new system, no substantial steps were taken,” Stalin said.

He warned that had the reforms been implemented in their current form, it could have caused serious problems for schoolchildren and would not have achieved the intended improvements, as the proposals were drafted according to the preferences of a few individuals at the National Institute of Education rather than following a structured plan.

Since the introduction of these reforms, the CTU has consistently opposed them and urged the government to develop a comprehensive and well-planned educational reform strategy. Stalin also highlighted several practical issues in the proposed reforms, noting that even the President acknowledged the potential for problems and public doubts if implemented prematurely.

Let it be clear, we are not against new educational reforms. Our education system desperately needs them. However, all previous governments promised reforms, the abolition of the executive presidency, and a new constitution, yet none of these promises were fulfilled,” he added.