China has agreed to provide a $20 million grant for digitizing Sri Lanka’s current education sector, the government said.
A government document on this week’s cabinet decision said the project was given priority after President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s official tour in China in January this year.
The project will see provision of all the components necessary to a smart class room for selected 500 schools under the proposed project and to establish the Network Operation Management Unit, Program Operation Room and Conference Room.
Smart classrooms in Sri Lanka represent a growing effort to modernize the country’s education system through the integration of digital tools and technology-based teaching methods.
These classrooms are typically equipped with interactive whiteboards, projectors, tablets or computers, internet access, and digital learning content.
Both India and China have been in the forefront of funding such smart classrooms under the previous government.
Analysts say smart classrooms have been especially beneficial in subjects like science, mathematics, and language learning, where multimedia content can enhance comprehension.
However, implementation remains uneven, with rural and under-resourced schools often left out due to infrastructure and connectivity limitations.
International development partners such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank, and UNICEF have also supported these efforts, contributing to the digitization of classrooms and teacher training programs.