2023 Budget: Several proposals to advance education and higher education

The 2023 Budget presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament on November 14, consisted of a range of education proposals.

The provision of internet facilities to schools for the advancement of the education system with the latest technology was proposed. As a part of this proposal, free internet facilities to 1000 senior and junior secondary schools located in remote areas will be facilitated as a first step.

Acknowledging insufficient health and hygiene facilities in some rural schools, a provision of Rs. 200 million will be made for the construction of sanitary facilities such as toilets, or to provide water facilities for toilets in 139 provincial schools, 23 national schools and many rural schools.

A proposal to increase university admissions from the Advanced Level classes by 10%, from the current 40-50% was presented to be effective from the academic year 2023/2024. The Education Ministry should take action to amend the system of admission to State universities.

Expanding opportunities for doctors, postgraduate study programmes in the Peradeniya, Ruhuna and Jaffna universities were proposed to be established, to which Rs. 50 million was allocated. Preparation of a national policy for postgraduate education locally for doctors was also suggested.

Proposing to set up a Quality Assurance and Accreditation Board to ensure the quality and accreditation of degree courses conducted in universities, the President allocated Rs. 100 million, where the Higher Education

Ministry is required to take steps to implement this proposal with the necessary legal provisions.

Students who receive excellent results at the 2022 A/L exams would receive 75 scholarships to pursue degrees in foreign universities to mark the 75th Sri Lankan independence, while another 75 scholarships for students with excellent degree performances at State universities to study in foreign universities was proposed.

Rs. 200 million was proposed to be allocated to establishing a new medical faculty under the Uva Wellassa University, to increase the number of students enrolling into medical faculties. Another Rs. 50 million was allocated to establish an institution to undertake and facilitate research on the history of Sri Lanka.