Schools Around the World – Sri Lanka

The Ministry of Education oversees the Sri Lankan public school system. We drove past several schools during our tuk-tuk tour, and they have the same open air concept we’ve seen in warm climates. We also saw a bus of what looked like early high school age students. They waved at us enthusiastically from the windows and asked Alexis what her name was.

School Structure and Calendar

The Sri Lankan school system is broken into Primary (Grades 1–5), Junior Secondary (Grades 6–9), Senior Secondary (Grades 10–11), and Collegiate (Grades 12–13). At the end of Grade 11 students sit for their O-Level Exams (Ordinary Levels). This is a milestone exam that determines if they can continue to the collegiate level.

Grades 12-13 are called the Collegiate level or Advanced Levels (A-Levels). This is where students specialize in a subject stream, like science or art. A-Levels are in preparation for university entrance and is like a pre-college program within the school system itself. The school structure follows the British colonial model – the same system still used in the UK today. Sri Lanka retained this system even after declaring independence in 1948.

The school year starts on January 2nd and they have three terms with breaks in between. Term 1: January – early April, term 2: late April – early July, and term 3: September – December.

Dress Code, Classrooms, and Expectations

Dress Code

Uniforms are mandatory for all students. The government provides free uniforms to its approximately 4.4 million students. The British introduced the uniforms during British colonial rule, and they have not changed much in appearance.

Classrooms and Expectations

Class sizes tend to be fairly large (30-35 students) and teachers give instruction in Sinhala or Tamil. English is taught as a second language. Respect and discipline are highly valued within the school system. The students are expected to stand when a teacher or visitor enters the classroom. Education in Sri Lanka is teacher-centered and content-heavy. There is an emphasis on memorization and exam preparation rather than critical thinking or project-based learning.

Free Education for All

The constitution of Sri Lanka states that education is a fundamental right. Therefore, it is state funded and offered completely free of charge at all levels – including university! In addition, free text books and uniforms are provided for all children. As a result of this, Sri Lanka has achieved a 93% literacy rate. This is higher than many developed countries. I found this remarkable!