Sri Lankan Delegation Visits SCERT Delhi for Knowledge Exchange

The delegation of 20 senior Educational Administrative Service Officers from Sri Lanka visited the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Delhi, on 16 June 2025. Facilitated by the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (COL-CEMCA) in partnership with the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), the visit aimed to promote mutual learning on key educational reforms and administrative practices.

The delegation, led by Ms Ishanthie Jayawardana from the Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka, comprised Zonal Directors, Deputy Directors, and Assistant Directors of Education. They were accompanied by Dr Mona Sedwal from NIEPA and Ms Nabila Ata from CEMCA. The primary interest of Sri Lankan delegation was to understand SCERT Delhi’s role in curriculum design, teacher training, decentralised planning, and integration of technology in pedagogy. The visit also sought to explore collaborative opportunities that could inform policy and practice in Sri Lanka’s education system.

The programme began with a warm welcome address by Shri Vikas Kalia, Director of SCERT, who emphasised India’s longstanding commitment to educational reform and SCERT’s mandate in leading academic governance in Delhi.

A key highlight of the session was a presentation by Ms Meenu Gupta, who outlined SCERT’s best practices in teacher professional development, inclusive curriculum adaptation, and research-based planning. The delegates engaged in an enriching discussion, exchanging ideas on accountability mechanisms, grassroots capacity building, and innovative training approaches.

The Sri Lankan delegation also shared their experiences in quality assurance, mentoring programmes, and zonal-level administration, offering valuable perspectives that enriched the dialogue. The session concluded on a note of cultural camaraderie with the national anthems of both nations, symbolising shared values and aspirations.

The session was moderated by Dr Ritika Dabas and Ms Swati Dhonchak from SCERT. The key outcomes included a deeper understanding of decentralised planning; inspiration from innovative teacher development models, which encouraged participants to explore similar initiatives in Sri Lanka; and focus on inclusivity and research driven policy development that resonated strongly with the delegation.

The visit served as a platform for mutual reflection and exchange. It not only reinforced the importance of decentralised and inclusive education systems but also marked a promising beginning for future collaborations facilitated by COL-CEMCA in advancing quality education in Sri Lanka.