DHAMMA SCHOOL DIVISION

Dhamma School and Religious Coordination Services

01. Provision of Uniform Allowance for Dhamma School Teachers

1. Submission of the list detailing the number of Dhamma School teachers and students (provided by the Department of Buddhist Affairs) to the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs via the Buddhist Affairs Coordinator Officer / Divisional Secretary / District Secretary.

2. The Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs will decide to provide the uniforms to those who meet the qualifications, following the verification of the accuracy of the documents by the District-in-Charge Officers at the Head Office.

   • Eligibility: The relevant teacher must have completed three years of continuous service at a Dhamma School registered with the Department of Buddhist Affairs.

   • Minimum Requirement: Must be 18 years of age at the time of joining the service.

02. Provision of Dhamma School Library Allowance

1. Submission of the list detailing the number of Dhamma School teachers and students (provided by the Department of Buddhist Affairs) to the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs via the Buddhist Affairs Coordinator Officer / Divisional Secretary / District Secretary.

2. The Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs will decide to provide the library allowance to those who meet the qualifications, following the verification of the accuracy of the documents by the District-in-Charge Officers at the Head Office.

Note: All appeals or amendments regarding the above-mentioned matters must be submitted to the Department of Buddhist Affairs via the Divisional Secretary or District Secretary within the relevant year.

03. Registration of Dhamma Schools

• Complete the Dhamma School Registration Application Form (Form 01) and submit it to the Department of Buddhist Affairs.

• A document containing the names, addresses, ID card numbers, and educational qualifications of the Dhamma School teachers must be attached.

  (Application forms can be obtained from Divisional Secretariat Offices and the Head Office of the Department of Buddhist Affairs.)

04. Editing and Printing of Dhamma School Textbooks

1. After identifying the textbook requirements for the upcoming year, quotations will be called for the printing of those books.

2. Selecting a suitable institution and handing over the material for printing.

3. Carrying out necessary coordination for rapid printing, finalizing the printing, and handing over the books to the warehouse.

4. Taking necessary steps to settle the printing costs.

05. Translation and Printing of Dhamma School Textbooks into Tamil and English Languages

1. Translation of Dhamma School textbooks prepared according to the new curriculum into the Tamil and English languages.

2. Handing over the translation task to a writer proficient in the respective languages, with the approval of the Dhamma School Textbook Advisory Board.

3. Carrying out necessary coordination for rapid printing of the translated textbooks, finalizing the printing, and handing over the books to the warehouse.

4. Taking necessary steps to settle the printing costs.

06. Provision of Dhamma School Textbooks / Teacher’s Handbooks / Dhamma School Management Books / Teacher Attendance Registers / Student Nominal Rolls

1. Submission of the list detailing the number of Dhamma School teachers and students (provided by the Department of Buddhist Affairs) to the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs via the Buddhist Affairs Coordinator Officer / Divisional Secretary / District Secretary.

2. The Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs will decide to provide the books to the qualified Dhamma Schools following the verification of the accuracy of the documents by the District-in-Charge Officers at the Head Office.

Note: All appeals or amendments regarding the above-mentioned matters must be submitted to the Department of Buddhist Affairs via the Divisional Secretary within the relevant year.

07. Conducting Dhamma School Grade 06 – 10 Examinations

1. Printed application forms are issued by the Department to registered Dhamma Schools, via the Registrar Thera of the Divisional Sasana Rakshaka Mandalaya, before the end of March each year.

2. Information regarding the Grade Examination Centres is obtained from the Registrar Thera before the end of July.

3. Circulars and instructions related to conducting the examination are issued before the end of September.

4. Question papers and stationery are handed over to the Registrar Thera in November, and the examination is conducted.

08. Change of Name of a Registered Dhamma School

• A written request must be submitted by the Head Teacher (Pradhanacharya).

• The original old certificate must be returned to the Department.

• Recommendation from the Divisional Secretary.

• Recommendation from the Venerable Registrar Thera (of the Sasana Rakshaka Mandalaya).

09. Obtaining a Replacement Dhamma School Certificate for a Lost One

• A written request must be submitted by the Head Teacher (Pradhanacharya).

• A written recommendation from the Divisional Registrar Thera and the Divisional Secretary confirming the accuracy of the information regarding the loss.

• A written affidavit/certificate from a Justice of the Peace regarding the loss.

10. Annual Teacher Certificate Examination for Dhamma School Teachers

Eligibility for the Examination:

1. Must be over 18 years of age.

2. Must have six months of service at a Dhamma School registered with the Department of Buddhist Affairs.

3. Application form must be duly completed.

• The notice regarding the relevant examination is published in February / March each year.

• Admission tickets are mailed in May to applicants who meet the necessary qualifications.

• The examination is held on the date advertised.

• Results are released before the end of August of the relevant year.

11. Dhamma School Student Competency Assessment Program (Divisional / District / All-Island)

1. Conducting student competency assessments within the Dhamma School to select students for the Divisional Student Competency Assessment and submitting the nominal roll of students appearing for the Divisional Assessment to the Venerable Registrar Theras of the Divisional Sasana Rakshaka Mandalas (Attachment 01).

2. Informing the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs of the nominal roll of students, the required number of question papers, and stationery for the Divisional Student Competency Assessment.

3. Providing stationery, certificates, and the necessary question papers for the Divisional Student Competency Assessment to the Divisional Sasana Rakshaka Mandalas by the Department of Buddhist Affairs.

4. Conducting the Divisional Student Competency Assessments.

5. The Venerable Registrar Thera of the Divisional Sasana Rakshaka Mandalaya sends the nominal roll of students nominated from the Divisional Mandalas for the District Student Competency Assessment to the Venerable Registrar Thera of the District Sasana Rakshaka Mandalaya and the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs (Attachment 02).

6. Providing stationery, certificates, and question papers for the District Student Competency Assessment by the Department of Buddhist Affairs.

7. Conducting the District Student Competency Assessments.

8. The Venerable Registrar Theras of the District Sasana Rakshaka Mandalas send the nominal roll of students nominated from the Districts for the All-Island Dhamma School Student Competency Assessment to the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs (Attachment 03).

9. Conducting the All-Island Dhamma School Student Competency Assessment.

12. Conducting Dhamma School Teacher Training Workshops

1. Serving as a Dhamma School teacher.

13. Issuance of Identity Cards for Dhamma School Teachers

1. Duly completed application form.

2. Recommendation from the Venerable Registrar Thera of the Sasana Rakshaka Mandalaya and the Divisional Secretary.

3. Completion of more than one year of service.

4. Submission of two passport-sized photographs.

14. Compilation of Concise Tripitaka Texts

1. The Tripitaka Council compiles the Tripitaka in a concise and accessible language.

2. Calling for estimates, handing over the material to the Government Printing Department for printing, and proofreading. Handing over to the Wēyangoda warehouse after printing.

15. Dhamma Sarāsaviya Buddhist Studies Diploma Course

(Affiliated with the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka)

1. Submitting the application form, prepared according to the newspaper advertisement, to the Department.

2. Attending the interview.

3. Certificate of two years of continuous service.

4. Photocopies of educational certificates.

5. Two passport-sized photographs.

16. Inter-Religious Cooperation Program

• Holding the program in a selected district with the participation of children aged 12 to 14, representing the Buddhist, Hindu, Islam, and Christian faiths.

• Exchanging religious features and cultural aspects relevant to each religion.