Minister of Women and Child Affairs Saroja Savitri Paulraj has announced that preliminary work is already underway to introduce a common preschool education system covering all nine provinces of Sri Lanka from 2027.
The Minister made the remarks while addressing the launch of the Early Childhood Education Development Programme.
Speaking further, Minister Paulraj emphasized the importance of integrating early childhood education into the country’s broader education framework and implementing it in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
She noted that preschool education in Sri Lanka currently operates largely on an informal basis and has yet to be formally recognized as a state-regulated educational service.
The Minister also highlighted several challenges facing the sector, including the absence of a standardized recruitment process for preschool teachers and the lack of a dedicated authority responsible for overseeing and regulating preschool education nationwide.
According to Minister Paulraj, the proposed reforms are aimed at creating a more structured, consistent, and high-quality preschool education system that will provide equal opportunities for children across the country.
She stated that the introduction of a common framework would help establish uniform standards for curriculum delivery, teacher qualifications, and educational quality, while ensuring better coordination between early childhood education and the formal school system.
The Ministry expects the initiative to strengthen the foundation of children’s learning and development, improve educational outcomes, and support the long-term advancement of Sri Lanka’s education sector.
Further details regarding the implementation of the proposed preschool education system are expected to be announced as preparations progress ahead of its planned introduction in 2027.
