Sri Lanka’s New Education Reforms (2026-2031): Your Complete Guide to the New Curriculum and Exams
Sri Lanka’s education system is about to undergo a massive transformation. The Ministry of Education has unveiled a comprehensive set of reforms designed to create a “citizen ready for the challenges of and beyond the 21st century”. These changes, set to roll out starting in 2026, will affect everything from the subjects you learn in primary school to the structure of the G.C.E. O/L and A/L examinations.
This article breaks down everything students, parents, and educators need to know about the upcoming education reforms.
The Vision: Goals and Guiding Principles
The main goal of these reforms is to build a foundation that helps students contribute to the nation’s sustainable development and peace. To achieve this, the new system is built on several key objectives:
- Enhance curriculum relevance and quality.
- Improve learning outcomes for all students.
- Increase student enrolment in Science and Technology streams.
- Promote skills needed for the 21st century, including an entrepreneurial mindset.
- Ensure fairness, equity, and inclusivity in education.
The reforms are guided by a core philosophy known as FREES:
- Free education and equal access.
- Relevance to human development and employment.
- Equal acceptability for all.
- Responsible citizens accountable to society.
- Sustainability, innovation, and lifelong learning.
The New School Structure: A Grade-by-Grade Overview
The traditional school structure is being reorganized into distinct stages, each with a specific purpose. A major change across the board is the introduction of a modular, credit-based curriculum. Instead of traditional subjects, learning will be broken down into self-contained units called modules, and students will earn credits for completing them.
Primary Education (Grades 1-5)
The focus in primary school will be on an activity-based, integrated curriculum. There will be 9 common learning areas for all students from Grades 1 to 5. These areas include Mother Tongue, English, Mathematics, Religion and Value Education, and Elementary Science, among others.
Junior Secondary Education (Grades 6-9)
This stage is designed to provide a “foundation for life”. Students must earn 35 credits per term. This is broken down into three main categories:
- Essential Subjects (30 credits): There are 14 compulsory subjects, including core areas like Mother Tongue, English, Maths, and Science, as well as newer subjects like Technology for Life and Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy.
- Further Learning (3 credits): Students can choose extra modules from the essential subjects to explore their interests more deeply.
- Transversal Skills (2 credits): These modules are designed for holistic development and include areas like Digital Citizenship, Media Studies, and Social Services.
A significant new feature is the National Skills Assessment in Grade 9, which will be introduced from 2029 onwards. This test will assess literacy and numeracy skills and include a psychometric test to help guide students’ career interests.
Senior Secondary Education – Phase I (Grades 10-11)
This phase prepares students for career readiness. The structure here also requires 35 credits per term.
- Core Curriculum (18 credits): Students will take 5 compulsory subjects and choose 2 elective subjects.
- Compulsory Subjects: Mother Tongue, English, Mathematics, Science, and Religion and Value Education.
- Elective Subjects: Students choose two from a list that includes ICT, History, Technology, Aesthetic subjects, and more.
- Further Learning (14 credits): This is a major change, offering students a choice between an Academic Path and a Skills Path. Students can select modules from streams like STEM, Humanities, Management, or vocational skills like Construction and Creative Industries.
- Transversal Skills (3 credits): Similar to the junior level, these modules focus on skills like Industrial Exposure, Global Studies, and Career Readiness.
Senior Secondary Education – Phase II (Grades 12-13)
This is the collegiate level, preparing students for university and professional life. The A/L streams will be expanded to five:
- Science
- Technology
- Management, Entrepreneurship, and Business Studies
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Vocational Studies
Students will choose 3 subjects from a specialized stream. They can also select “enrichment modules” from within their stream and “interdisciplinary modules” from other streams to broaden their knowledge. General English and General Information Technology (GIT) will be compulsory for all.
The New Examination System: Key Dates and Changes
The national examination system will be significantly updated to align with the new curriculum.
Key Examination Dates
- 2029: The first National Skills Assessment will be held for Grade 9 students.
- 2029: The first G.C.E. (O/L) Examination under the new reforms will be conducted.
- 2031: The first G.C.E. (A/L) Examination under the new reforms will be held.
G.C.E. (O/L) Examination Changes
The O/L exam will be based on 7 subjects: the 5 compulsory core subjects and the 2 elective subjects chosen in Grade 10. The exam will now be held after the completion of five terms in the Senior Secondary (Phase 1) level.
Assessment Reforms
The focus is shifting from a single high-stakes exam to a more continuous evaluation process.
- School-Level Assessment: Assessments will be based on learning modules. The final grade for a module will be calculated with 70% from formative assessments (ongoing classwork, projects) and 30% from a summative assessment (end-of-module test).
- GPA System: Student performance will be reported using a Grade Point Average (GPA) system.
- National Education Management Information System (NEMIS): A centralized digital system will be used to track assessment data and integrate it with student, teacher, and school profiles.
Implementation Roadmap (2025-2029)
These reforms will be implemented in phases. Here is the official timeline:
- 2025: Issuing circulars and guidelines, conducting awareness programs, and training teachers.
- 2026: The new curriculum will be implemented for Grade 1 and Grade 6.
- 2027: Implementation for Grade 2 and Grade 7.
- 2028: Implementation for Grade 3, Grade 8, and Grade 10.
- 2029: Implementation for Grade 4, Grade 9, and Grade 11. This year will also see the first Grade 9 Skill Test and the first new G.C.E. (O/L) Examination.
The reforms are a major step towards modernizing education in Sri Lanka, offering students more flexibility, a stronger focus on practical skills, and multiple pathways to success.