Sri Lanka’s proposed school curriculum reforms will introduce credit-based modular assessments, continuous evaluation and vocational education pathways beginning in Grade 6, according to details presented to members of Parliament.
The revised National Curriculum Framework was discussed at a special meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, chaired by Prime Minister and Education Minister Harini Amarasuriya.
Parliament published details of the briefing on November 3.
The proposed reforms would move the school system towards assessing learning outcomes throughout the academic year, reducing its reliance on examinations that primarily test memorised content.
Grade 2 and Grade 6 changes scheduled for 2027
Education Ministry Secretary Nalaka Kaluwewa told the committee that the government’s implementation timetable provides for reforms in Grade 1 during 2026, followed by Grades 2 and 6 in 2027.
The Ministry is preparing teacher training programmes, learning modules and teacher guides.
Plans are also being developed to improve digital infrastructure in schools.
The parliamentary announcement does not provide the number of schools requiring digital upgrades or the budget allocated for that work.
It also does not specify how many teachers have completed training for the revised curriculum.
New assessment system under development
National Institute of Education Director General Professor O.G. Dayaratne presented the proposed assessment framework.
Under the revised approach, students would accumulate credits through modular learning and continuous assessments conducted during the year.
The proposal represents a change from the existing examination-oriented approach.
The parliamentary statement does not identify the precise weighting that continuous assessments would receive in determining students’ final results.
It also does not explain how assessment standards would be maintained across schools with different staffing levels and facilities.
Those operational details will determine how consistently the new system can be implemented.
Vocational pathways beginning in Grade 6
The revised framework includes opportunities for students to become familiar with vocational fields from Grade 6.
Students in Grades 12 and 13 would have pathways allowing them to pursue vocational qualifications up to National Vocational Qualification Level 4.
The proposal also preserves routes into higher education.
The Ministry has not published a district-level list of schools expected to offer each vocational pathway.
Practical implementation will require decisions about instructors, equipment, assessment facilities and relationships with vocational training institutions.
National committee established to oversee reforms
Kaluwewa said a national committee comprising subject specialists had been appointed by April 2026 under a Cabinet decision.
Five subcommittees were established to provide guidance on the reform process.
The National Institute of Education developed the curriculum framework using the education policy approved by the National Education Commission in 2023.
According to the parliamentary briefing, work on the broader reform process began in 2019.
The Prime Minister told the committee that decisions concerning implementation difficulties should be guided by research and evidence.
Members of Parliament raised questions about the reforms during the meeting.
The government has launched a public information website named RIES and is conducting an awareness programme for teachers, parents and the wider public.
The November 3 parliamentary statement does not include a complete implementation budget or a published evaluation of school readiness for the 2027 changes.
