Sri Lanka’s allocation of less than 2% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to education, as reported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is considered the lowest among South Asian nations and falls far below the international benchmark of 4-6% of GDP recommended for education spending.
The Ministry of Education in Sri Lanka has conducted a national assessment that sheds light on the challenges faced by the education system. The assessment revealed that a significant 85% of Grade 3 children do not achieve minimum proficiency levels in literacy and numeracy.
In response to these challenges, both the Ministry of Education and UNICEF are working collaboratively to develop a national program aimed at addressing the educational setbacks caused by prolonged school closures and disruptions over the past three years. This program seeks to provide support and resources to approximately 1.6 million primary school children who have been affected by these interruptions, helping them regain access to quality education.
