Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya Outlines NPP Government’s ‘People Partnership’ Vision for Transformative Education Reform
ColomboWire | Political Desk
Prime Minister and Minister of Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya this week outlined the National People’s Power (NPP) government’s broader “People Partnership” vision, placing education reform at the very centre of Sri Lanka’s national transformation agenda. Addressing education officials, civil society representatives, and private-sector stakeholders, the Prime Minister emphasised that education is not merely a budgetary line item, but the most strategic long-term investment a nation can make in its people.
Dr. Amarasuriya stated that the NPP government’s approach to education reform is rooted in equity, quality, and collective responsibility. The “People Partnership” model, she explained, is designed to move beyond traditional state-centric governance by bringing together the government, ethical private-sector actors, and the public in a collaborative effort to uplift Sri Lanka’s next generation.
Early-Stage Education Reform: Years One and Six
A key pillar of the proposed reforms is a restructuring of early and transitional stages of schooling, particularly Year One and Year Six, which the Prime Minister described as “critical turning points in a child’s educational and psychological development.”
Under the new framework, the first year of schooling will be redesigned to prioritise foundational learning, emotional wellbeing, and adaptability, rather than rote-based academic pressure. Dr. Amarasuriya noted that international best practices increasingly recognise that early childhood education should focus on curiosity, creativity, and social development.
“Children must first learn how to learn,” she said. “Our reforms aim to build confidence, critical thinking, and a love for learning from the very first year of formal education.”
Meanwhile, Year Six will see the introduction of an entirely new syllabus, marking one of the most ambitious curriculum reforms proposed in decades.
Entrepreneurial and Financial Education for Year Six
The proposed Year Six syllabus will include entrepreneurial education and basic financial management, a move that reflects global trends in developed education systems. According to the Prime Minister, modern economies demand not only academic knowledge but also financial literacy, innovation, and problem-solving skills.
“Our children should understand the value of money, savings, investment, and enterprise from an early age,” Dr. Amarasuriya said. “These are life skills, not elite privileges.”
The syllabus will introduce age-appropriate concepts such as budgeting, cooperative enterprise, ethical business practices, and long-term planning. The objective is not to turn children into premature profit-seekers, but to equip them with the cognitive tools to navigate a complex economic world.
Education Ministry officials confirmed that the curriculum is being designed with input from educationists, child psychologists, economists, and industry professionals to ensure that the content remains practical, inclusive, and socially responsible.
Reinforcing Free Education as a National Guarantee
The Prime Minister reaffirmed the NPP government’s unwavering commitment to free education as a constitutional and moral guarantee, regardless of a student’s social background or economic status.
Under the proposed reforms, the government will continue to provide free textbooks, school uniforms, and footwear to every student across the country. Dr. Amarasuriya stressed that no child should be burdened with anxiety over school shoes, bags, or basic learning materials.
“Education must be a space of dignity,” she said. “A child should walk into a classroom thinking about ideas, not about what they lack.”
This approach, she noted, is especially critical in a post-economic crisis context, where many families continue to struggle with cost-of-living pressures.
People Partnership and Ethical Private Sector Engagement
A distinctive feature of the NPP’s policy framework is its People Partnership (PPP) model, which seeks structured collaboration between the state, public institutions, and ethical private-sector actors.
Unlike traditional public-private partnerships driven purely by profit motives, the NPP’s People Partnership model emphasises social responsibility, transparency, and long-term national interest. Under this initiative, ethical entrepreneurs and business leaders are encouraged to support schools by providing materials, scholarships, and infrastructure assistance without political patronage or commercial exploitation.
“The private sector has a role to play in nation-building,” Dr. Amarasuriya said. “But that role must be ethical, accountable, and aligned with public interest.”
The Education Ministry will act as a regulatory and coordinating body to ensure that such partnerships remain equitable and free from undue influence.
Targeted Support for Underprivileged Students
The Prime Minister highlighted that the People Partnership initiative will prioritise students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Through scholarships, learning materials, and targeted assistance programmes, the government aims to remove structural barriers that hinder educational access.
By reducing the financial burden on families, the government hopes to improve attendance, retention, and overall educational outcomes, particularly in rural and marginalised communities.
“Talent is equally distributed across Sri Lanka,” Dr. Amarasuriya noted. “Opportunity is not. Our task is to correct that imbalance.”
Quality Over Quantity in Education Policy
Looking ahead to 2026, the Prime Minister said the NPP government’s education reforms will focus on measured, quality-driven outcomes rather than numerical expansion alone. She argued that producing graduates without relevant skills serves neither the individual nor the economy.
“Our objective is not to produce more certificates, but more capable, ethical, and confident citizens,” she said.
The reforms are expected to modernise teaching methodologies, enhance teacher training, and align learning outcomes with contemporary social and economic realities.
A Collective National Vision
Concluding her address, Dr. Amarasuriya reiterated that the People Partnership vision is fundamentally about shared ownership of Sri Lanka’s future. By aligning the state, public institutions, and citizens toward a common goal, the NPP government believes it can deliver sustainable and inclusive development.
“When people participate, policy succeeds,” she said. “Education reform is not the responsibility of the government alone—it is a collective national mission.”
As Sri Lanka prepares for a new phase of educational transformation, the NPP government’s People Partnership model signals a shift toward collaborative governance, placing children, equity, and long-term national interest at the heart of policy-making.