Courtesy Hiru News

Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter questioned why there is a push to implement education reforms that the government has already admitted contain errors.

These remarks follow a meeting today (20) with a representative body of parents of Grade 6 students, who submitted a memorandum requesting the reforms proceed within this year.

The Mahanayake Thera noted that the Prime Minister acknowledged flaws in the process, resulting in the suspension of several officials and the postponement of the Grade 6 reforms by one year.

He highlighted the conflict between groups opposing the reforms as harmful and those demanding their immediate start, suggesting that the government should instead involve a broad range of senior professors and scholars to refine the system properly.

In contrast, the parents’ association argued that traditional education methods are outdated and that the new modular system is essential for preparing children for a technology-driven future.

They claimed that minor errors should not be used as an excuse to derail the entire reform process.

The group also met with Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Mahanayake Thera of the Asgiri Chapter, who emphasised the need for all stakeholders to reach a consensus that prioritises the children’s well-being.

Speaking to the media, Janani Tellamure, a member of the association, appealed to all media outlets not to support efforts to disrupt the reforms and insisted that the new system should be implemented without further delay.