A meeting in Colombo brought together Minister Ali Sabry, school principals, and representatives from various educational organizations to discuss pressing challenges facing Muslim schools in the region. The participants identified several critical issues, including staff shortages, insufficient infrastructure, and difficulties in delivering Islamic education in Sinhala for students in the Sinhala medium.
In response to these concerns, President Ranil Wickremesinghe directed the Ministry of Education and the Urban Development Authority to investigate the issues and provide detailed reports. A particular focus was placed on addressing the shortage of qualified teachers for Islamic education, which impacts an estimated 40,000 students studying in the Sinhala medium.
The discussion also raised concerns about the lack of Muslim schools in certain areas of Colombo, limiting students' access to quality education. To address this, President Wickremesinghe instructed officials to identify suitable locations for relocating and expanding schools to better serve the community.
Challenges related to infrastructure were also emphasized, particularly the inability to construct new school buildings due to space constraints and regulatory hurdles, even when donor funding is available. Principals and representatives stressed the urgent need to fill an estimated 200 teaching vacancies across Colombo's 19 Muslim schools.
The President’s directives aim to ensure equitable access to education and improve learning conditions for all students. By addressing these challenges, the government hopes to foster inclusivity and enhance opportunities for Colombo's Muslim school communities.
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