Education: Key NPP manifesto promises

Abstract

There were several new promises made by the president in his manifesto to solve the existing issues (such as high dropout rates, inequality and affordability) in the education sector and for its development.

Many of these promises require funding through the national budget to be implemented.

Here are some key promises from the manifesto which require budgetary funding to fulfill:

- Gradually raising the allocation to education as a percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP) up to 6% - Establishing a National Examination Evaluation Center with all technological and physical facilities - Creating a fully equipped Curriculum Development Unit for curriculum development within the National Institute of Education - Establishing a National University of Education by merging all Colleges of Education and Teacher Training Colleges - Offering 200 scholarships per year for high school graduates to pursue degrees at internationally ranked universities - Increasing Mahapola and other bursaries in line with the cost of living - Creating a university for postgraduate research and development - Merging nursing schools into a national nursing university.