The Educational Publications Department of Sri Lanka has instructed all school principals and heads of Pirivenas to collect and conserve textbooks from students who recently sat for the G.C.E. Ordinary Level (O/L) examinations, according to an official directive.
The directive, dated June 22, 2026, and signed by the Commissioner General of Educational Publications, D.A. Subhashini Dematagoda, mandates that at least 50% of the total student requirement for Grade 10 and Grade 11 textbooks must be met through reused books for the upcoming 2027 academic year.
Key Directives Outlined in the Circular:
- Targeted Recovery: Schools must retrieve Grade 10 and 11 textbooks from all students who have just completed their G.C.E. (O/L) examinations and ensure they are safely stored within the school premises.
- 50% Reuse Mandate: In compliance with Circular No. 2026/20 (issued on January 6, 2026), schools are required to reallocate these used textbooks to cover half of the student population’s textbook needs for these grades in 2027.
- Digital Data Entry: Principals have been instructed to complete the book collection process urgently, as the department’s online textbook ordering system is slated to open shortly. The exact number of reusable books collected must be accurately logged into the online database.
The measure aims to promote resource sustainability and manage government expenditure on printing new materials. Copies of the letter have been forwarded to all Provincial, Zonal, and Divisional Directors of Education to ensure strict supervision and implementation across the island.
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