Sri Lanka, 2016/17

years of schooling fall from 13 years to 8.3 years when adjusted for learning—a substantial decrease. The gap between expected years of schooling and learning-adjusted years of schooling ranges from about six years in Eastern and Northern Provinces to about four years in Western and Southern Provinces.

There are steep gender differences in expected years of schooling adjusted for mathematics learning outcomes. Girls outperform boys in all provinces (table 2.5). The gender gap is highest in Eastern Province, where girls effectively have 1.3 more years of education than boys. Western and Southern Provinces follow, where girls effectively have 1 year and 0.9 more years of education than boys, respectively. The gender gap is lowest in Central Province (0.1 years), Sabaragamuwa Province (0.2 years), and the North Central Province (0.3 years).

Substantial differences in years of schooling, adjusted for English language learning, are found among provinces. Students in Western Province have the highest level of achievement, 9.6 years, followed by students in Southern Province, 8.8 years, and those in Central Province, 8.1 years (table 2.6).

MAP 2.3

Mathematics learning-adjusted years of schooling, by province: Sri Lanka, 2016/17

6.8% Males and females

9.2%