No Child Should Miss Education Due to Poverty – Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has emphasized that no child in Sri Lanka should be denied access to vocational or higher education due to financial difficulties, calling on all government institutions to place equity at the heart of their strategic planning.

She made these remarks while addressing a workshop on budget formulation and strategic planning for institutions linked to the vocational education sector, held at the Grand Monarch. The workshop brought together heads and senior officials from nine institutions, including two universities affiliated with vocational education.

The Prime Minister stressed that the development plans of vocational institutions must be closely aligned with the National Economic Development Plan. While acknowledging that these institutions play a vital role in producing skilled professionals, she highlighted that education reforms should go beyond technical competence. According to her, vocational education must also cultivate compassion, empathy, ethical values, and social responsibility, shaping professionals who are both skilled and humane.

Dr. Amarasuriya stated that it is the government’s duty to expand access to vocational education, particularly for children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, to ensure they have opportunities for a secure and dignified future.

Addressing the impact of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, the Prime Minister noted that there is still no clear global consensus on how AI will transform vocational fields and the future of work. She stressed that integrating vocational education into the mainstream education system through timely reforms has become an urgent necessity.

She also cautioned that while AI-driven advancements are often guided by profit motives, Sri Lanka must avoid being left behind, as happened during earlier industrial revolutions. While technology has enabled online learning, she pointed out that its role remains limited in professions requiring human care and compassion, such as childcare and caregiving, highlighting the continued importance of soft skills and a human-centered approach.

The discussion further focused on creating flexible education pathways, allowing students to progress through vocational education up to doctoral level, as well as enabling lateral entry while being employed. Ensuring high standards and quality alongside flexibility was identified as essential to maintaining the credibility and integrity of the education system.