Online education deemed unsuitable for children aged 3–5- Ministry

The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs in Sri Lanka has officially advised parents not to allow children aged 3 to 5 years to participate in online education programs. According to the Ministry, online classes conducted through platforms like Zoom for this age group go against important ideas in educational psychology and child development. In a recent statement, the Ministry expressed concerns about online seminars aimed at preschool and early primary school children. It highlighted that, based on educational psychology, children aged three to five should learn in environments that involve hands-on activities and social interaction. The Ministry pointed out that too much screen time during this developmental stage can harm children in various ways. They cautioned that learning through screens might slow down the development of social skills, shorten attention spans, and hinder creative thinking. Additionally, the Ministry stated that following the child development policies of the Government of Sri Lanka, early childhood learning should focus on children engaging actively with their surroundings. They stressed that excessive use of technology can negatively impact young children's mental and physical health, especially concerning vision and brain growth. As a result, the Ministry does not support online classes for this age group.