President says academics should decide on education reforms instead of politicians

President Maithripala Sirisena has said that academics and professionals must be vested with the power to make decisions regarding educational reforms instead of politicians.

He made these remarks while speaking at a meeting regarding the Grade Five Scholarship exam at the Presidental Secretariat yesterday.

The President had also pointed out the need to formulate a national policy and a set-up a dialogue to resolve the issues in the education sector. Professionals, academics, and politicians must take part in this dialogue, he said.

While reiterating that the Grade Five Scholarship exam has created an unhealthy competition among students based on the so-called "popular schools" concept , Mr. Sirisena had insisted that this situation must be changed for the betterment of the children.

President Sirisena had also sought the opinions of academics who were present at the meeting on abolishing the Scholarship Exam. 

Presidential Secretary Udaya R. Seneviratne, and Education Secretary Nihal Ranasinghe were also present at the meeting.