Many international schools fall short of national standards in education, and many have teachers who are not competent to teach in the English medium, according to recent research.
Education Minister Susil Premjayanth has appointed a three-member parliamentary sub-committee to review international schools, study conditions prevailing at the schools, and make recommendations. The idea is to ensure that international schools are on par with national standards in education.
The committee comprises Minister of Road Passenger Transport Lasantha Alagiyawanna, UNP MP Renuka Herath, and JVP MP Bimal Rathnayake.
So far, the committee has met representatives from the Education Ministry, the National Institute of Education, the Department of Examinations, senior lecturers and deans from faculties of education in universities, principals of international schools, principals of public schools, and owners of international schools. The committee is to submit a final report shortly.
International schools are registered under the Companies Act, and as such are not subject to laws or regulations relating to education standards in secondary schools, The Sunday Times learns. About 300 international schools are registered under the Companies Act.
MP Rathnayake told The Sunday Times that the parliamentary sub-committee had found several shortcomings in many of the international schools. Some had sub-standard facilities, and many English-medium teachers were not up to the job.
There was also the problem of adjustment as a result of students switching schools. MP Rathnayake said it was not uncommon for parents to start a child’s education in an international school and then, for financial reasons, put their child in a public school halfway through their education. “A switch like this can have a negative psychological impact on the child,” he said.
Under the 1946 Education Act, the government alone is responsible for the education of children between five and 18 years, the MP said. A new trend observed in international schools is that many of the schools are teaching the national syllabus in the English medium, rather than the London Ordinary Level or Advanced Level syllabus.
There are between 200,000 and 300,000 students attending international schools in the country, according to the Ministry of Education. | 
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