Ajith Perakum Jayasinghe
Sri Lanka is entering a new chapter in its education journey. The government is in the process of introducing major educational reforms aimed at making learning more relevant, inclusive, and future-ready. In this context, the four pillars of education proposed by UNESCO — learning to know, learning to do, learning to be, and learning to live together — offer a meaningful framework to guide these changes.
Learning to Know
This pillar focuses on acquiring knowledge and developing critical thinking. In Sri Lanka, many students still learn through rote memorisation. The new reforms aim to change this by encouraging inquiry-based and activity-oriented learning. By helping students learn how to learn, the system can prepare them to face the challenges of the 21st century, such as technological change and access to global information.
Learning to Do
With youth unemployment and skills mismatch being major issues in Sri Lanka, learning to do is more important than ever. The proposed reforms highlight the need for vocational training, entrepreneurship education, and practical learning experiences from an early age. This pillar supports the government’s efforts to create a skilled and adaptable workforce that can contribute to national development.
Learning to Be
Education must also nurture the full personality of a child — their creativity, confidence, emotional well-being, and values. In a society recovering from decades of conflict and still facing social pressures, learning to be becomes essential. The reforms suggest the inclusion of social-emotional learning and value education in the curriculum, ensuring that students grow not just intellectually, but also as responsible and self-aware citizens.
Learning to Live Together
Sri Lanka’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths — but also a source of division if not properly understood. The reforms place importance on multicultural education, civic responsibility, and peacebuilding. Learning to live together supports the goal of national unity, encouraging students to respect differences, cooperate, and build social harmony.
By aligning the upcoming education reforms with these four pillars, Sri Lanka can create a more holistic and equitable education system. These concepts remind us that education is not only about passing exams, but about shaping thoughtful, capable, and compassionate individuals who can contribute to a peaceful and prosperous nation.
