Sri Lanka, April 22 -- Education is the cornerstone of a nation's progress and development. As children enter adolescence, real-world concerns like income, independence and influence come to the fore, and education starts to play a tangible role in determining life success.

One of the biggest issues that lead to low participation and high drop-outs is the perception that school learning does not prepare students for the job market. Adolescence is also a formative period during which children must be encouraged and empowered to become constructive members of a society that promotes peace, reconciliation and resilience.

The number of children dropping out of school had decreased from 39,899 in 2012 to 19,924 in 2021, Minister of Education...