Revisiting “Free” Education

Every good idea has a limited shelf life. “Free” education as C W W Kannangara conceived it in the early 1940s is one such idea. It is true that the Kannangara policy has brought enormous benefits to the country. The adult literacy rate of over 90% in the country is one such benefit. The “free” system has also established some degree of equity in access to education at all levels. But the 1940s “free” education that Kannangara created no longer exists. What does exist is a set of myths that prevents meaningful reform of the system.

Myth 1: Sri Lanka has “free” education. Students who attend state schools, universities and other state tertiary facilities do not pay tuition fees. School children get their textbooks free of charge. A relatively small number of fifth standard scholars and Mahapola undergraduates get a subsistence grant. But this is not the sum total of education. Private tuition is a multi billion rupee industry. “International” schools account for a small but not inconsequential percentage of children attending school. Private fee-levying university programs are growing. Some branches of professional education such as accountancy and information technology are largely available only on a fee-paying basis.

Myth 2: Free education protects equity and helps the poor. At best this is a half truth. Read More>>