Public schools
It is possible for Sri Lankan students to undertake vocational and technical training in the public sector. They can be awarded certificates, diplomas, national diplomas or even a bachelors degree. There are 37 technical colleges throughout Sri Lanka, which are overseen by the Ministry of Skills Development, Vocational and Technical Education, via the Department of Technical Education & Training.
It is interesting to note that pupils have to wear uniforms whilst at school (which are available free of charge). Uniforms were introduced during the British control over the Island in the 19th Century. School is compulsory from the age of 6 until the end of the Junior Secondary School (15 or 16 years old). Transport to school is subsidized by the government, and pupils receive free medical examinations at schools, as well as dental care as is required.
From 5th Grade to University level, Pupils can apply for ‘Bursaries for the Bright,’ which are granted to deserving children based on their achieved grades. A grade can be from 0 to 100 (100 being the best), and the average is 40.
Sri Lankan government aims to have the best education possible, and so public schools are located across the whole island and are available for anybody.
Books are provided by the government for Grades 1 to 11, and so are free of charge for pupils. This includes the pupils in private schools and Piriven schools, and is organized by the Department of Educational Publications.
Private schools
In Sri Lanka, there are 98 private schools, though there are no private schools in the Kilinochchi, Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullativu, Ampara, Trincomalee or Polonnaruwa districts. There were 117,000 children studying in private schools in 2010, who were taught by 6,000 teachers. School books are also provided by the Government for children in Grades 1 to 11. The number of private schools is increasing, as there is a growing upper-middle class population in Sri Lanka. Private schools generally have better and more modern facilities than public institutions, but are not free of charge. To attend, you must have sufficient financial means to pay the fees, though semi-government schools now exist. These are for families who desire a private education for their children, but do not have the financial means to pay.
The most famous private schools are located in the capital, Colombo. Two of the most well known Catholic Schools are Saint Joseph’s College and Saint Peter’s College, and Anglican schools, Ladies’ College and Saint Bridget’s Convent.
International schools
There are of course, International schools in Sri Lanka, which are not specifically for expatriates, but for any person wishing to study in an international environment. These schools are also private, and so a barrier for native Sri Lankan pupils and expats is financial cost. In general, tuition fees are very high. Teaching is normally to a high standard and facilities are also good. International schools are overseen by the Board Of Investment (BOI) and are not regulated, managed or controlled by the government’s Ministry of Education.
The standard of education (subject, language etc) in international schools can vary a lot between schools, and also from the public Sri Lankan schools, as they don’t have any government ruling in terms of training. Students are prepared for other certificates and diplomas such as the Edexcel General Certificate GCE, the Advanced Subsidiary AS, or Advanced A2 Level Examination. As far as diplomas are concerned, the training allows students to sit the IB diploma (which is co-ordinated by the British School of Colombo, the only IB World School in Sri Lanka).