Qualitative changes in the offing:

Major overhaul in education system - minister

Novel changes will be made to the education system to steer it along a new direction while improving its quality. For instance teacher appointments will be made on the basis of schools in the future, said Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena.

Minister Gunawardena was addressing a meeting at the ministry complex to mark the presentation of appointment letters to newly recruited teachers on Tuesday. A batch of 135 persons who obtained the Diploma in Education from National Colleges of Education received appointment letters from the minister.

The minister said that under conditions stipulated for newly appointed teachers, they should agree to be attached to a school where there is a vacancy for the relevant subject. "This will change the system of arranging transfers to other schools after gaining the appointment. A new teacher role dedicated to the cause of children is expected from the newly appointed teachers by society," Minister Gunawardena said.

He added that an amendment will be made to the GCE Ordinary Level syllabus in 2013 to enable students to study three subjects relevant to the GCE Advanced Level examination. "This will provide the basic knowledge to access those subjects in the Advanced Level classes early."

He said the government's objective is to develop all schools as quality schools in place of the present system of popular schools.

"Programmes launched under the secondary schools development project, will be of great assistance towards this endeavour."

The minister said the highest allocation made for education will be made in this year's budget. It will facilitate the development of physical and human resources needed for the progress of education.

Education Deputy Minister Vijith Vijayamuni Soysa and Ministry Secretary H.M. Gunasekara were also present.