• National schools to be increased to 500 from the current 373

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

University intake is to be increased by a further 10,000 while the duration of certain degrees will be revised as a precaution to delays of intake caused by the pandemic, Minister of Education Dinesh Gunawardene told Parliament yesterday.   

Speaking during the committee stage of the budget, Minister Gunawardene said the government had focused on reducing the time taken to produce professionals such as doctors. “Durations will be reduced while maintaining global standards,” the Minister said.  

“We will also establish a body to regulate private schools,” he also said.  

The Minister said the number of national schools will be increased to 500 from the current 373. Gunawardene also assured that year five scholarship examination will be held in January next year while Advanced level examination will be held in February and the ordinary level examination 2021 will be held in May next year. “ All these examinations will be held on the scheduled date,” he assured.

• Govt focused on reducing time taken to produce professionals such as doctors