Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya said on 9 October that the government plans a single platform for students to apply to universities, National Colleges of Education and vocational training institutions after the G.C.E. Advanced Level examination.
She was speaking at a meeting of the Voluntary Advisory Council of the Ministry of Education at Parliament. The University Grants Commission and other institutions have been told to develop the policy, and a pilot is expected to begin in 2028.
Students currently have to submit separate applications to each institution, which the Prime Minister said causes administrative difficulties.
She also said the Cabinet has approved the Concept Paper on Education Reforms, the revised National Curriculum Framework and the Student Assessment Framework for Grades 1 to 11. The framework for Advanced Level students is still being developed.
A five-year, Rs. 96 billion project to develop digital education in schools has received policy-level approval. Online safety guidelines for students will be piloted in November, with full implementation planned for early 2027.
