This research examines literacy in Sri Lanka. Topics discussed include background information on the Sri Lankan educational system, Sri Lanka's literacy rate and the reasons there for, Sri Lanka's literacy rate and other socioeconomic measures compared to other countries at a similar stage of economic development, and the relationship between Sri Lanka's literacy rate and macroeconomic measures.
Background Information on the Sri Lankan Educational System
The educational system in Sri Lanka remains largely based on the system developed during the country's colonial period. The three-tiered system includes a six-year primary level, a seven- year secondary level, and a tertiary level at a different set of institutions.
The control of public education by religious groups ended in Sri Lanka in 1960. Even prior to 1960, the government provided almost all funding for education. Since 1960, the government no longer provides funding for religiously-controlled schools; however, religiously-controlled schools now play a much smaller role in the Sri Lankan educational system. Tuition at governmentally-funded schools and colleges is free through the first degree level at universities.
With political independence, the Sri Lankan government, formed by the majority Sinhelese population component, implemented the Official Language Act which established Sinhelese as the country's official language. Following the designation of Sinhelese as the country's official language, steps were taken to introduce Sinhelese are the language of instruction in Sri Lankan primary and secondary schools. This action caused deep resent within the Tamil population component, which has been translated into one of the worst civil wars anywhere in the world in the contemporary period.
The implementation of the Official Language Act, together with the subsequent attempts to require the use of Sinhelese as the instruction...