The number of children admitted to Grade 1 in Sri Lankan schools has been declining by approximately 40,000 each year, Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Education Dr. Madhura Seneviratne has said.
He attributed the decline mainly to the reduction in the country’s annual birth rate.
According to the Ministry of Education, nearly 300,000 children are admitted to schools across the country each year.
Meanwhile, Dr. Seneviratne announced plans to establish 309 new primary schools across Sri Lanka, with 31 scheduled to be set up this year.
He said all the new schools would follow a standard architectural design and be equipped with modern sanitary facilities that meet contemporary standards.
The Deputy Minister also revealed that the Ministry of Education is considering changes to the Grade 5 Scholarship Examination.
Source: Lankadeepa
