To Maintain Dhamma Schools belonging to all religions under the same system.

The preliminary discussion on formulating a new set of policies for Dhamma schools on the need for the government to run Dhamma schools for all religions under a single system was held on 7th October 2021 at the State Ministry of Dhamma Schools, Pirivenas and Bhikku Education under the patronage of State Minister of Education Vijitha Berugoda.

The need to formulate a legal framework for the following criteria in formulating the new set of policies was raised at this meeting.

• The need to formulate a legal framework for the following criteria in formulating the new set of policies was raised at this meeting.
• Introduction to the role of Dhamma school education.
• Procedure for registration of Dhamma Schools to be done in the same manner for all Dhamma Schools.
• Enrollment of children, adjusting the age level of children to the same methodology in every Dhamma school.
• Recruitment of teachers, identification of necessary qualifications for teachers and training of teachers.
• Providing to an expert advisory board to prepare the syllabus of Dhamma education.
• Textbook printing, simplicity of textbooks and increase practical activities.
• Determining the authority who conducts Dhamma school examinations and conducting competitive examinations.
• Identifying the value of the Dhamma School Certificate.
• Giving value to the Dhamma School certificate when getting a job.
• Legitimize the methodology of providing funds for Dhamma schools.
• Transparency in the methodology for obtaining local and foreign aid.

In formulating a new set of policies for Dhamma Schools, a committee of experts representing the Ministry and the Department and the respective religions should be appointed as well as the relevant policies should be formulated giving priority to the areas that should be given special attention in maintaining the relevant Dhamma Schools through that committee. It was also suggested that it would be more appropriate to do so.

The following composition was also proposed to form an expert committee consisting of officials related to the subject.

• Ministry Officers (Ministry of Education and Ministry of Buddha Sasana and Religious Affairs)
• Necessary officers at the departmental level for all religions (Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, Muslim)
• Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, Muslim, religious leaders
• All island Sasanarakshaka Authority
• Education Specialists

Proposals were made to set up four committees as follows and to nominate a number of 5-7 members for each of these committees to meet and formulate a policy statement.

• Dhamma School Commencement, Registration, Local and Foreign Funding Committee
• Committee on Admission of Children, Recruitment of Teachers, Classrooms and Other Facilities
• Committee on Curriculum, Textbooks and Teaching Techniques
• Conducting examinations, issuing certificates and admissions committee for employment

Officials from the Department of Buddha Sasana, Department of Religious and Cultural Affairs, Department of Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs, Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs, Department of Christian Religious and Cultural Affairs and the State Ministry of Dhamma Schools, Pirivenas and Bhikku Education participated in this meeting.