School dropouts on the rise : Education Ministry report

The number of students dropping out before completing 13 years of education is on the rise, according to the Education Ministry’s Progress Report for 2025. The report attributes the increase in dropouts to multiple factors, including disparities in the distribution of human and physical resources, which have contributed to a breakdown of parental trust in the system. Despite government initiatives aimed at reducing economic barriers—such as the provision of free textbooks, uniforms, school meals, and insurance—many families continue to face significant financial burdens, the report said. Although Sri Lanka maintains a free education policy from the first year of schooling…

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