The Shortcomings of the Sri Lankan Education System: Progress, Challenges, and the Path Forward in 2025

Sri Lanka’s free education policy, a landmark initiative introduced in 1947 under the visionary leadership of Mr. C. W. W. Kannangara, continues to serve as a foundation for the country’s social and economic development. Today, nearly eight decades later, this policy remains one of Sri Lanka’s most valued public services, offering free schooling and public university education to citizens across the island.

Thanks to this long-standing commitment, Sri Lanka's literacy rate has consistently stood well above the global average. In recent years, it has remained at around 92%, while the youth literacy rate impressively reaches 98.8%, a remarkable feat for a developing country. The government allocates approximately 2–4% of its GDP annually to education, contributing to higher school enrolment rates and notable gender parity in access to education.

Structure of Sri Lanka’s Education System

The general education system in Sri Lanka comprises 13 years of schooling, divided into three cycles. All public schools are state-funded and free, providing free textbooks, uniform materials, and examinations, including the Grade 5 Scholarship Exam, G.C.E. Ordinary Level (O/L), and G.C.E. Advanced Level (A/L). School attendance is mandatory for children under the age of 14, a policy that continues to uplift literacy and enrolment.

Gender Parity in Education

As of 2025, Sri Lanka still outperforms many countries in eliminating gender disparities in education. At the secondary level, female attendance rates exceed those of males, as many boys tend to drop out early to enter the workforce and support their families. Despite this challenge, Sri Lanka has made commendable strides toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 5 (Gender Equality) by ensuring equal access to education for girls and boys alike.

Current Challenges in the Education Sector

Despite its successes, Sri Lanka’s education system continues to face persistent challenges in 2025:

• Mismatch between education and employment: The job market demands skills that are not adequately addressed within the current curriculum, resulting in high youth unemployment despite formal educational qualifications.

• Declining quality of education: Many schools suffer from undertrained teachers, outdated pedagogical methods, and inefficient administrative practices, leading to a dip in the quality of learning outcomes.

• Socioeconomic barriers: Despite free education, poverty and lack of access to basic needs such as transport, food, and stationery keep many students—especially in secondary and tertiary levels—away from school.

• Urban-rural divide: Inequality in resource distribution between rural and urban schools continues to create an uneven playing field. Students in rural areas are often at a disadvantage due to poor infrastructure, limited access to digital tools, and fewer qualified teachers.

Access to Tertiary Education: The Next Hurdle

While Sri Lanka boasts 15 public universities, entrance is fiercely competitive due to limited space and overwhelming demand. Only a small percentage of students qualify for state university admission. As of recent years, tertiary education enrolment stands at just 21.1%, compared to the global average of 38.8%.

There are now around 30 officially recognized degree-awarding institutions apart from state universities, but access remains restricted to students who can afford private tuition or external degrees. As a result, thousands of capable students, despite meeting academic benchmarks, miss out on higher education simply due to affordability.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Lessons Learned

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020–2022 left a lasting impact on the education landscape. Major exams like the O/Ls, A/Ls, and university finals were postponed or disrupted, causing delays in graduation, university admissions, and entry into the workforce. Final-year students, in particular, faced uncertainty, with many unable to graduate on time or begin employment due to postponed exams and a stalled job market.

In response, most institutions shifted to online learning. However, the digital divide exposed significant inequalities. According to 2019 data, only 22% of Sri Lankan households owned a laptop, and less than 50% had internet access. While these numbers have gradually improved, access to devices and stable connectivity continues to be a major challenge, particularly in rural areas.

The Road Ahead in 2025

While Sri Lanka’s free education policy has been instrumental in achieving universal literacy, the challenges of educational equity, quality, and relevance remain front and center in 2025. It is now essential to shift focus towards:

• Upgrading teacher training and infrastructure

• Modernizing curricula to match labour market demands

• Expanding digital access and literacy

• Strengthening vocational and alternative education pathways

• Increasing state funding for tertiary education to accommodate more students

Education is no longer just about access; it’s about opportunity, relevance, and resilience. As we look ahead, Sri Lanka’s legacy of free education must evolve to meet the needs of a dynamic, digital, and globalised world—ensuring every child, regardless of background, can dream, learn, and thrive.