Sri Lanka’s Education Ministry is developing internet safety and digital wellbeing guidelines tailored to five student age groups, with a pilot scheduled for November 2026, News1st reported on 10 October.
The development was outlined through the ministry’s Volunteer Advisory Council at a meeting in Parliament chaired by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya.
Different guidance for different ages
The reported approach recognises that guidance should vary across a child’s school years. However, the report did not publish the precise age bands or the full contents of the proposed guidelines.
The November exercise is a pilot. It should not be read as confirmation that the programme has already been implemented across all schools.
Questions for schools and families
For parents and teachers, the useful details will be practical: what materials will be provided, how teachers will introduce them, and how families can reinforce the same messages at home.
A classroom discussion about an unfamiliar message, for example, needs language that a younger pupil can understand. An older student may need room to discuss independence and judgement. These are considerations for implementation, rather than published details of the ministry’s plan.
The pilot will be the next milestone
Schools selected for the trial, the timetable and the process for gathering feedback will help clarify its reach. Until those details are released, the announcement establishes the direction of the work, rather than a complete new set of classroom requirements.
