The proposed bill to convert Sri Lanka’s National Colleges of Education (NCoE) into degree-awarding institutions has received approval from the Attorney General’s Department. According to a senior official from the Education Ministry, the bill is scheduled to be presented in Parliament during its upcoming first term.
Under the new legislation, 19 Colleges of Education across the country will be authorized to offer four-year degrees instead of diplomas. This change is expected to open up opportunities for Advanced Level graduates from the 2024 batch who meet the necessary Z-score requirements, with plans to admit approximately 5,000 students per intake.
To further enhance teacher qualifications, the ministry is considering options for 10,000 current teacher trainees enrolled in these colleges to extend their programs by an additional year, allowing them to also graduate with a degree. Weekend classes may be offered to help them complete their studies.
The Education Ministry has also recommended that the University Grants Commission introduce a new Education category, enabling qualified students to pursue degrees in arts, science, mathematics, and other fields.
The groundwork for this conversion was largely developed under former Education Minister Susil Premajayantha, with the initiative now gaining momentum towards implementation.
