Children's learning loss rises to 88%

According to government data, the education sector has to face a very serious and complex process in the face of the economic crisis and by August 2021 alone, the dropout rate of children has risen to 88%.

Secretary to the Ministry of Education MN. Ranasinghe revealed at the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA).

He was speaking at a meeting of the Copa Committee chaired by Prof. Tissa Vitarana to look into the future plans of the education sector in the wake of the Kovid situation and the economic crisis.

Officials from the Ministry of Education, the National Institute of Education, the Department of Examinations, the Department of Education Publications and the University Grants Commission were summoned to this special meeting.

The Secretary pointed out that the inability to cover the curriculum in the limited time available due to the inability to hold school on the scheduled days, the existing fuel shortage, the economic hardships of the children's families and the loss of jobs to the parents are becoming a serious problem.

The officials pointed out that despite teaching through online technology, there are various difficulties in rural areas and prolonging the online system in the learning process is not a successful method for students.

Another major problem is the inadequacy of funds allocated to the Ministry of Education by the Ministry of Education in the wake of the current economic crisis. The Secretary said.

The committee also focused on the need to limit the scope of the syllabus to be applied to examinations which could not cover the entire syllabus due to the limited number of schools, otherwise the students as well as the teachers would be under severe pressure.

It was revealed that the learning loss of students in 2020 is estimated to be 54% and by August 2021 it will be 88%. In such a situation, the Committee emphasized the need for the Department of Examinations to prepare question papers in such a way as not to be unfair to the students considering the relevant learning loss during the examinations. The Committee recommended that a policy decision be taken in this regard in coordination with the National Institute of Education, the Ministry of Education and the Department of Examinations.

It was also revealed that due to the existing transportation difficulties, a system of temporary attachment of children to the nearest school is being prepared and it is expected to be implemented by December 31 this year.