WEP-Sri Lanka


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Education Profiles		SRI LANKA
Country Facts Education Overview Elementary Education Lower Secondary Education Upper Secondary Education Higher Education Grade-by-Grade Comparisons Other Resources Printer Friendly Version		EDUCATIONAL OVERVIEW Administration and Finance Size Structure Private and Public Education Academic Year Teacher Training ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE The Ministry of Education, Cultural Affairs and Information has jurisdiction over primary and secondary education. The Ministry of Higher Education has direct control over tertiary education in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is divided into 30 educational regions, each with a director to manage primary and secondary education and a District Development Council with appointed and elected members. Additionally, eight provincial Departments of Education with divisional offices, assist in the overall management of the educational system at the local level. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has wide powers over university education in Sri Lanka. The main functions of the UGC are to allocate funds to universities, to coordinate teaching and research programmes, and to ensure that the universities conform to national policies in matters related to admission and language of instruction. The UGC also has the power to establish postgraduate institutions attached to universities. Education in Sri Lanka is entirely government-controlled and funded. However, funding for education in Sri Lanka is also dependent on foreign assistance. Approximately 3% of the Gross National Product is allocated to education. SIZE Approximately 4,200,000 students are enrolled in educational institutions at all levels. STRUCTURE Elementary and secondary education (including upper secondary studies) consist of 13 years of education. The educational system is patterned after the British educational system in that students sit for external examinations (General Certificate of Education, Ordinary Level) upon completion of Grade (or Form) XI and (General Certificate of Education, Advanced Level) upon completion of upper secondary education, Grades XII and XIII. The General Certificate of Education Advanced Level is the general admission requirement for all students wishing to continue their education at the higher level. For students who do not wish to continue on to university education, a system of national certificates and diplomas are offered in a variety of technical and vocational fields. The admission requirement to these programmes varies, but in most cases students can be admitted on the basis of GCE ‘O’ Level examinations. The duration of the programmes also varies depending on the discipline, most being two to four years in duration. Part-time study is also available. Although upper secondary education is centered on university entrance, the number of places available for students who wish to pursue higher education is limited. Several types of degree programmes are offered at the university undergraduate level. In the general arts and sciences, three-year bachelor’s degrees are awarded. In addition, four-year bachelor’s degrees designated as “Special” are also offered in arts and sciences. Postgraduate education of one to two years in duration is also offered at universities, in addition to master’s degrees of two year’s duration and doctorate degrees of two to five years in duration. PRIVATE AND PUBLIC EDUCATION Private schools must be registered with the MEHE and are inspected and approved by the ministry supervisory staff. Students in these schools must take the common examination administered by the Department of Examination. The major part of private schools are run by religious bodies (Catholic and Roman Catholic). ACADEMIC YEAR The school year is divided into three terms starting in January; the university year runs from October to June. TEACHER TRAINING Teacher education is provided at teacher training colleges, colleges of education, the National Institute of Education (NIE), faculties of education in the universities, and the Open University of Sri Lanka. University graduates, graduates of the colleges of education and GCE A-Level qualified students are eligible to apply for the teaching profession. Colleges of education offer three-year courses; open to qualified GCE A-Level graduates. Upon completion graduates are awarded the Trained Teacher’s Diploma. Revised: May 06, 2004 . Copyright © 2001 World Education Services. All rights reserved.

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Education Profiles

SRI LANKA

Country Facts

Education Overview

Elementary Education

Lower Secondary Education

Upper Secondary Education

Higher Education

Grade-by-Grade Comparisons

Other Resources

Printer Friendly Version

EDUCATIONAL OVERVIEW

Administration and Finance
Size
Structure
Private and Public Education
Academic Year
Teacher Training


ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
The Ministry of Education, Cultural Affairs and Information has jurisdiction over primary and secondary education. The Ministry of Higher Education has direct control over tertiary education in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is divided into 30 educational regions, each with a director to manage primary and secondary education and a District Development Council with appointed and elected members. Additionally, eight provincial Departments of Education with divisional offices, assist in the overall management of the educational system at the local level.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has wide powers over university education in Sri Lanka. The main functions of the UGC are to allocate funds to universities, to coordinate teaching and research programmes, and to ensure that the universities conform to national policies in matters related to admission and language of instruction. The UGC also has the power to establish postgraduate institutions attached to universities.

Education in Sri Lanka is entirely government-controlled and funded. However, funding for education in Sri Lanka is also dependent on foreign assistance. Approximately 3% of the Gross National Product is allocated to education.

SIZE
Approximately 4,200,000 students are enrolled in educational institutions at all levels.

STRUCTURE
Elementary and secondary education (including upper secondary studies) consist of 13 years of education. The educational system is patterned after the British educational system in that students sit for external examinations (General Certificate of Education, Ordinary Level) upon completion of Grade (or Form) XI and (General Certificate of Education, Advanced Level) upon completion of upper secondary education, Grades XII and XIII. The General Certificate of Education Advanced Level is the general admission requirement for all students wishing to continue their education at the higher level.

For students who do not wish to continue on to university education, a system of national certificates and diplomas are offered in a variety of technical and vocational fields. The admission requirement to these programmes varies, but in most cases students can be admitted on the basis of GCE ‘O’ Level examinations. The duration of the programmes also varies depending on the discipline, most being two to four years in duration. Part-time study is also available.

Although upper secondary education is centered on university entrance, the number of places available for students who wish to pursue higher education is limited. Several types of degree programmes are offered at the university undergraduate level. In the general arts and sciences, three-year bachelor’s degrees are awarded. In addition, four-year bachelor’s degrees designated as “Special” are also offered in arts and sciences. Postgraduate education of one to two years in duration is also offered at universities, in addition to master’s degrees of two year’s duration and doctorate degrees of two to five years in duration.

PRIVATE AND PUBLIC EDUCATION
Private schools must be registered with the MEHE and are inspected and approved by the ministry supervisory staff. Students in these schools must take the common examination administered by the Department of Examination. The major part of private schools are run by religious bodies (Catholic and Roman Catholic).

ACADEMIC YEAR
The school year is divided into three terms starting in January; the university year runs from October to June.

TEACHER TRAINING
Teacher education is provided at teacher training colleges, colleges of education, the National Institute of Education (NIE), faculties of education in the universities, and the Open University of Sri Lanka.

University graduates, graduates of the colleges of education and GCE A-Level qualified students are eligible to apply for the teaching profession. Colleges of education offer three-year courses; open to qualified GCE A-Level graduates. Upon completion graduates are awarded the Trained Teacher’s Diploma.