Bachelor of Education - Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

The Bachelor of Education degree was first introduced by University of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1963. Prof. J. E. Jayasuriya, then Professor of Education at University of Ceylon introduced the course to meet the growing demand for professional teacher qualifications. Then the practice was to join the teaching profession with a Bachelors degree either in Arts or Sciences and after four years of teaching in a Secondary school teachers get the One year Post-Graduate Diploma in Education. The University of Ceylon used to take only 50 -60 Post Graduate Diploma candidates at a time in an annual program. The B.Ed degree was introduced combining the Bachelors degree and the Post Graduate Diploma in Education. B.Ed was introduced as a four year special degree and in contrast with the 9 - 10 3hr papers at the final degree examination, a B.Ed degree required a candidates to sit for 19 - 20 papers for the finals. This happened due to combining of the Bachelors degree and the Post-graduate Diploma in Education. Only the top performing students were admitted to B.Ed degree at University of Ceylon,Peradeniya. The first batch graduated in 1967. Following this Australia introduced the B.Ed degree. Upali M Sedere was the first First Class holder of the B.Ed degree from University of Ceylon,Peradeniya in 1969. Subsequently in 1973, the B.Ed program at the University of Sri Lanka changed in its scope and character.