Pro 'Educational Reforms' Protests Spread Across Sri Lanka

COLOMBO (News 1st); A series of protests erupted across Sri Lanka today (17) as parents and educators called on authorities to reinstate the suspended Grade 6 education reforms, which they argue are essential for easing the burden on students and modernizing the country’s schooling system.

The demonstrations, organized by Grade 6 Parents’ Associations, took place in Polonnaruwa, Ampara, and Matara, drawing attention to what many see as a critical setback in the nation’s education policy. 

The reforms, introduced in 2025, aimed to integrate modules that emphasized creativity, sports, and the arts. However, the program was halted earlier this month, sparking widespread discontent among families.

In Polonnaruwa, parents gathered to demand the immediate resumption of the reforms. One mother voiced her frustration, saying:

"The world is moving forward with new inventions and technology, but here in Sri Lanka, our children are still burdened with outdated methods. Opposition politicians send their children to international schools or abroad, while ours depend on free education. Stopping these reforms is the lowest act I’ve seen as a mother."

Another parent emphasized that children who had passed the scholarship exam and entered larger schools were left disillusioned when the reforms were withdrawn just a week into implementation. “We saw hope in this change. Now it has been taken away,” she said.

A teacher and mother, trained under the new module system, appealed directly to national leaders: "Mr. President, Madam Prime Minister, this reform was a gift to our children. Please don’t take it back. It must be given to them."

In Ampara, the protest took a dramatic turn when a father of three, Maithripadma Samarasekara, began a hunger strike demanding the reforms be reinstated by January 21. 

Supported by his wife and two school-going children, Samarasekara said he could not bear to see his youngest child’s disappointment: "This system gave children the chance to learn through joy, art, and sports, free from exam fear. The moment we heard it was being taken away, my child cried. As a father, I decided the only thing I could do was to sacrifice myself in this way."

He accused politicians of undermining reforms for narrow interests, while their own children study abroad with ease. “Our children deserve freedom through education. That is what they are trying to deny,” he declared.

Meanwhile, in Matara, parents staged another protest, accusing opponents of the reforms of acting out of self-interest. One mother argued: "Those who oppose this system are people educated abroad, half-educated, or with fake degrees. They are not thinking about our children’s future."

Another father urged the public to investigate who is truly against the reforms: "Are these forces really working for the good of the country? Or are they bankrupt politicians trying to gain power by misleading people?"

Parents also expressed anger at political figures who, they claimed, spread misinformation to derail the reforms. “Our children were excited about lighter schoolbags and a better future. Now they are left in despair,” one father said, warning that abandoning reforms would push youth toward destructive paths.

Sri Lanka’s education system has long been criticized for its heavy reliance on exams and rote learning, placing immense pressure on students and families. The Grade 6 reforms, introduced last year, were seen as a landmark attempt to modernize schooling by reducing exam stress and encouraging holistic development.

The suspension of the program has reignited debates over education policy, with parents accusing political forces of sabotaging progress for partisan gain.