ICT in Education in Sri Lanka

Abstract

ICT in education as practiced in Sri Lanka can be differentiated as ‘ICT education’ and ‘ICT as an enabler of education’. Although the stated objectives of policymakers or funders is the latter, after nearly two decades of investments in ICT infrastructure and teacher training in Sri Lanka, ICT as a stand-alone subject to be tested through examinations is well-entrenched in the education system, but there is very little evidence for the integration ICT in the teaching and learning process as an enabler of education. In the absence of data on ICT use in schools, we take an in depth look at the state of ICT as an enabler of education using three schools and a university in Sri Lanka as case studies. We selected institutions with functioning infrastructure and committed leadership so that we do not arrive at the all too familiar conclusions that point to the lack of those. The case studies revealed that Sri Lanka is indeed ready to move from the ‘ICT education’ stage to an ‘ICT as enabler of education,’ but, a system-wide transition is only possible through a concerted national effort within a master plan which stays constant as regimes change. Government investments up to date have been driven by promises in election manifestos by each incoming regime and the availability of donor funding. A master plan alone is not sufficient. Implementation of a plan will not be successful without changes to the largely examination-driven education system in Sri Lanka which has made ICT another subject to be tested on paper rather than a tool for life-long learning, and living and working in a technology driven world.