Access to early childhood education remains out of reach for many children in Sri Lanka due to high costs, Human Rights Watch said in a May 2025 statement. The organization noted that while primary education is often constitutionally protected, early childhood education receives little legal attention and is rarely free.
In Sri Lanka, public education is free at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. However, pre-primary institutions charge fees, pricing out families living below the poverty line. A preschool teacher told HRW that only 3 of 20 children in her class paid fees in January 2025, with others absent for months due to non-payment. An education official acknowledged the issue, saying there is no space in the system for those who cannot pay. According to government data in 2018, just under 20% of preschools are public, while over 88% charge tuition, Echelon’s sister concern, EconomyNext, reported.
Barriers to attendance include high fees, lack of facilities nearby, and low awareness among parents. HRW said the absence of early education has long-term effects, citing a primary school head who observed that 70% of new students lacked pre-primary exposure and struggled with learning.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals call for universal access to pre-primary education by 2030. Countries like Ireland have expanded free access and seen universal enrollment. In contrast, Sri Lanka continues to report low attendance in early education, disproportionately affecting poor and disabled children. HRW warned that continued exclusion from pre-primary education could deepen existing inequalities and undermine future learning outcomes.
Pre-primary education is crucial for children with learning and physical disabilities, and early exposure could strengthen the capacity to benefit from education and reduce stigmatization and discrimination against children with special needs.