The Role of E-Learning in Driving Educational Reforms in Sri Lanka

Digital education essentially involves the use of digital tools and technologies during teaching and learning, to educate students in an interesting and retentive manner. Sometimes referred to as Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) or e-Learning, educational institutes the world over are embracing this digital transformation in education as the most dynamic way of engaging the technologically savvy student of today. In Sri Lanka, while digital transformation of the country is taking place rapidly, the development of the economy and its people can only take place through digital education.

With Sri Lanka’s internet penetration crossing 52% or 11.34 million internet users at the start of 2022, an increase of 528,000 users over 2021, according to the ‘We Are Social’ digital 2022 report for Sri Lanka, as well as the recent surge in the acceptance and usage of digital technology, the stage is set for education to evolve from classrooms, blackboards and textbooks into a merger of online content, digital technology and innovative methods of teaching and learning. This evolution will also be spurred by the continual growth of e-learning across the region. In 2020, Asia’s digital education market size exceeded US$38,257 million and is forecasted to surpass US$162,160 million by 2030. India, which has plans to start a 100% digital university this year and China continue to be forerunners in advancing the digital education sector in Asia, due to its respective government’s intense focus on improving educational infrastructure through large investments in technology, aided by rapidly growing smartphone and internet penetration.

In Sri Lanka too, although a novel concept, several state universities, professional associations as well as private and public sector education institutions have identified the significant benefits of e-learning and now allow students to obtain qualifications such as diplomas, bachelor’s and master’s degrees online in subjects ranging from management, marketing and IT to science, engineering and cookery.?[SG1]?[SW2]?

Furthermore, digital education can allow teachers to customize study material for different students learning speeds and aptitudes, thereby fostering greater interest and motivation in students. Students being exposed to technology, information and new learning tools such as gamification, amplifies their efficiency, productivity and capability, leading to the creation of a smarter generation of students, as an unavailability of resources no longer exists. A digital education system can also driver greater accountability in students as it enables real time, transparent, assessments and promotes lateral thinking, problem solving and logical analysis, moving away from teacher-centric education to student-centric education.

As digital education grows in popularity, a multitude of possibilities emerge to create confident, empowered and evolved Sri Lankans who could be the catalysts to create a future ready nation.