1. Dr. (Mrs.) Jayanthi Gunasekara Director General National Institute of Education Sri Lanka

2.  Population - 20.64 million  Ethnic Groups - Sinhalese : 74.9% - Tamils: 15.2% - Moor: 9.3% - Others: 0.6% (Malays & Burghers)  Middle Income Country - Per capita Income : USA $ 3440  Youth Literacy Rate - Female : 98.6% - Male: 98.2%  Adult Literacy Rate - Female : 90.0% - Male: 91.2%

3. It is education that sustains one’s future, It cannot be forcibly taken away by enraged kings and ministers, It cannot be plundered by robbers, Nor can it be carried away by rolling floods.

4. Demand – side policies  Free education from Grades 1-13  A package of incentives: free text books, free school uniform, subsidized transport  A balanced meal for selected primary schools  The government enacted compulsory basic education (Grades 1-9)  School attendance committees appointed to follow up.

5. Supply – side policies  Availability of sufficient number of primary and secondary schools  Automatic promotion system from grades 1-11.  Special education programmes for children with special education needs.  Open schooling system for out-of-school children to offer basic and secondary education.  Non-formal education programmes at community learning centres.

6. Primary (Grade 1-5) net enrolment rate = 98% Primary (Grade 1-5) net completion rate = 99% Junior Secondary (Grade 6-9) net completion rate = 92% Secondary (Grade 10-11) net completion rate = 65% Ratio of girls to boys enrolled to Primary Education = 99% Ratio of girls to boys enrolled to J. Sec. Education = 105%

7. National Institute of Education Vision To be a Centre of Excellence in providing leadership for quality education for all in a pluralistic and dynamic society. Mission To provide quality education for all by developing curricula, enhancing professionalism and engaging in research to empower learners to realize their potential to build a humane society.

8. Mission To provide wider access to sustainable and learner-centric quality education and skills development through open and distance learning, resulting in an inclusive learning society. Establishment - inaugurated in May, 2005 - programmes started in 2007

10. Street children Beach Boys Culturally affected Drug traffickers Prisoners Child Laborers Unskilled workers  Geographical barriers  Cultural barriers  Inequalities in socio –political, and economic  Natural disasters  Indigenous  Disability Disabled

11. Without Instead  Permanent buildings  Classrooms  Fixed timetable  A traditional teacher  Rigid rules and regulations  At any place  At any time  With the help of any media  On their own pace  For their own desires individually or in a group  With the assistance of a tutor

12.  Provide an alternative path for those who need to continue their education  Provide assistance to those who need to complete their Secondary Education  Provide opportunities for those who are unskilled or semi-skilled  Strengthen a strong link between education and the ‘World of Work’  Ensure importance and value of continuing education for improving quality of life  Promote social justice and social harmony  Promote a learning society

13.  Drop-outs and failures from formal education due to various reasons  Those who did not have accessibility for education due to social, economic and cultural situations  Un-skilled and semi-skilled who want to continue their education  Disabled children and youth  Children in correctional centers and prisoners  Displaced and war affected children and youth  Other disadvantaged groups

14. Children in correctional Centres

15. Displaced children War affected children and youth

16. Disabled children No access to education due to religious and cultural barriers

17.  Foundation Programme  Open secondary Education Programme - Basic Literacy Courses - Second language Courses -Life-enrichment Courses

18.  Needs analyzed  Course materials designed and prepared for different levels  An advisory committee appointed  Regional Centers established  Tutors/ mentors/ facilitators recruited and trained  Learners directed to centers and learning materials distributed  Learner support provided through regional study centers  Study progress monitored and reviewed through Center Visits and assessment and evaluation of learners conducted

19.  Conducted 20 surveys on the learning needs of learners  Developed 71 Sinhala and Tamil medium modules and 02 supplementary books for English  Prepared audio cassettes, compact disks and practical and activity books  Established 25 Regional Study Centres  Recruited 25 senior tutors and 216 tutors  2400 learners follow open school programmes at Regional Study Centres island wide  175 learners joined to the formal schools  400 learners sat for G.C.E.(Ord. Level) exam  O5 learners got through the Grade.5 Scholarship Exam, 160 learners got through G.C.E.(O-L) and 10 learners are following G.C.E. (A-L)  827 learners abled to find jobs invarious fields  Conducted 02 International Symposiums and 04 National Workshops

20. KNCU funding for Open School programme  2014US$ 20,000  2015US$ 18,100 Progress  train 80 tutors from regional study centres in order to enhance the capacity of tutors.  Facilitated 25 regional study centres  Prepared materials (Modules) for secondary course learners.  Conducted 14 supervision visits and 14 progress review meetings  Conducted an evaluation and prepared a report.

21. Won “UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize” at the Awarding Ceremony in PARIS - 2015

22.  Immediate intervention for learner’s needs  Inculcating of self-directed learning  Tutors adaptability for open and distance learning  Utilization of ICT and other technological devices  Establishing on-line courses

23.  Develop more effective learner support systems.  Apply remedial measures to improve active learning processes.  Implement technical and skill development courses.  Introduce on-line lifelong learning programmes.