## 📈 Education Reforms 2026: PM Launches Student-Centred Framework

The Prime Minister and Education Minister, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, officially launched the national program for 2026 education reforms, focusing on systemic transformation and equal access. • Core Objective: Transition from a teacher-centred model to a student-centred approach, ensuring that a child’s education quality is independent of their parents' financial status. • Primary Education Focus: Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): Strengthening foundational skills. Language Proficiency: Enhanced focus on English and second-language instruction. Environment & Science: Grounding early learning in scientific and ecological principles. • Key Structural Changes: Grade One (2026): Initial rollout of the new curriculum focusing on a "pressure-free" and child-friendly atmosphere. Continuous Implementation: Reforms for Grade Six, initially delayed for 2026, are planned for subsequent years to ensure continuity. Exam Culture: Moves away from the traditional exam-driven model to reduce student dropouts and mental stress. • Professional Development: Focus on strengthening teacher competencies and protecting teacher professionalism to better support social development and values. • Economic Impact: By modernizing primary education and reducing dropouts, the reforms aim to build a more resilient workforce for the ICT/BPM and technical sectors, addressing long-term employment needs.