Major Education Reforms Set for 2026: New Curricula for Grades 1, 6, and 10

The Ministry of Education has announced that guidelines for Sri Lanka’s new education transformation process, set to begin in 2026, were released this August. Key reforms include syllabus changes, teacher training, and the introduction of vocational education at the school level.

A meeting on the steps required for teacher training under the new reforms was held yesterday (16) at the National Institute of Education (NIE), Maharagama. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Higher Education, and Vocational Education, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya.

Addressing the gathering, the Minister revealed that new syllabus will be introduced for Grades 1 and 6 from 2026, while Grade 10 will follow a revised curriculum from 2028. The GCE Ordinary Level examination will be conducted under the new curriculum starting in 2029. Vocational education will also be introduced from Grade 9.

Department heads of the NIE briefed the Minister on the progress of reform implementation and upcoming plans.

Prime Minister Amarasuriya said the education reform process is based on five key pillars: syllabus revision, teacher training, improved administrative and infrastructure support, strong outreach, and public participation. She highlighted the role of NIE in developing teachers with a positive and progressive mindset, ready to meet modern education standards.

The Minister instructed officials to establish a formal system for monitoring and evaluation to ensure the reforms are implemented effectively and responsibly.