The proposed Bill to convert National Colleges of Education (NCoE) into degree awarding institutions has received approval from the Attorney General’s Department and is set to be presented to Parliament in its first term, a senior Education Ministry official said. The Bill will enable the conversion of 19 Colleges of Education to award degrees to graduates instead of a diploma. The Education Ministry is looking to admit the 2024 GCE (Advanced Level) batch students who obtain the required Z-score marks. They hope to admit some 5,000 students per batch which would produce that many graduates after completing the four-year degree.

Education authorities are also looking into the possibility of enabling 10,000 teacher trainees currently in the Colleges of Education to extend their study programme by a year enabling them to obtain a degree. They will be provided opportunities to follow weekend classes and complete their degrees. The Education Ministry has proposed to the University Grants Commission to add a new Education category for those having the required Z-score marks to apply. They would be able to obtain degrees in arts, science and mathematics, etc. A majority of the preparatory work to convert the colleges into universities was done under former Education Minister Susi l Premajayantha’s administration. -DWI