Education in North Central Province, Sri Lanka: official figures
Government schools in North Central Province had 289,467 pupils and 17,229 teachers in 2025 (provisional), 16.8 pupils per teacher, 2nd highest of the 9 provinces (Sri Lanka: 15.5).
How do students in North Central Province do in the O/L exams?
70.2% of North Central Province's 23,289 school candidates who sat the GCE Ordinary Level exam in 2024 (five or more subjects) qualified for Advanced Level, 2nd lowest of the 9 provinces (Sri Lanka: 73.5%; provisional).
Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka (compiling the named official sources) · saved copyHow many students from North Central Province go to university?
2,436 students from North Central Province were admitted to state universities in 2023/2024, 173 per 100,000 residents, 2nd lowest of the 9 provinces; they were 5.4% of all admissions (2022/2023: 2,283).
Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka (compiling the named official sources) · saved copyMore figures
- Enrolment in North Central Province's government schools fell by 1.5% between 2019 and 2025 (Sri Lanka: fell by 7.7%). Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka (compiling the named official sources) · saved copy
- 10.8% of people in North Central Province had passed the GCE Advanced Level or gone further in the 2019 Household Income and Expenditure Survey, 3rd lowest of the 9 provinces (Sri Lanka: 15.1%). Source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka (compiling the named official sources) · saved copy
How North Central Province compares with other provinces
GCE O/L school candidates qualifying for A/L (2024)
North Central Province ranks 8 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GCE O/L school candidates qualifying for A/L |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Eastern Province | 74.3% |
| 4 | Central Province | 73.9% |
| 5 | Sabaragamuwa Province | 73.5% |
| 6 | Uva Province | 73.2% |
| 7 | North Western Province | 71.5% |
| 8 | North Central Province | 70.2% |
| 9 | Northern Province | 69.9% |
Pupils per teacher in government schools (2025)
North Central Province ranks 2 of 9, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Pupils per teacher in government schools |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Province | 17.7 |
| 2 | North Central Province | 16.8 |
| 3 | Eastern Province | 15.9 |
| 4 | Southern Province | 15.7 |
| 5 | North Western Province | 15.7 |
| 6 | Central Province | 14.9 |
| 7 | Sabaragamuwa Province | 14.7 |
More on North Central Province: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · Sri Lanka
Sources
- Central Bank of Sri Lanka (compiling the named official sources): Economic and Social Statistics of Sri Lanka 2026, chapter 2: Tables 2.4 (vehicles, Provincial Departments of Motor Traffic), 2.13, 2.16 and 2.18 (HIES 2019, Department of Census and Statistics), 2.20 (Ministry of Education), 2.26 (Department of Examinations), 2.30 (University Grants Commission) and 2.39 (Ministry of Health), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 babb9cbb27c5…)
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