Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has announced plans to develop educational pathways allowing nursing students to pursue degrees rather than remaining limited to diploma-level qualifications, as part of broader education reforms.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has outlined government plans to create multiple educational pathways enabling students to progress toward degree-level qualifications across various professions. During discussions held at Parliament involving education officials and nursing representatives, the PM emphasized that the new education reforms should facilitate degree attainment through both academic and vocational routes, each with distinct objectives and outcomes.
The meeting focused particularly on expanding nursing education beyond its current diploma framework. Officials discussed establishing the necessary higher education infrastructure to support students seeking nursing degrees, while also ensuring that such expansion aligns with broader development of the health and education systems. The government has called for expedited submission of a committee report tasked with developing an educational pathway for nursing degree programs.
Beyond nursing, Prime Minister Amarasuriya indicated that vocational education routes should similarly enable progression to higher education in related health sector professions, including caregiving and elderly care services. The PM stressed that these educational pathways represent distinct approaches rather than a single model, with vocational education serving as a viable alternative to traditional academic streams. The discussion drew participation from the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, the University Grants Commission, and the All Ceylon Nurses' Association.
