ALIGNING ESL CURRICULUM AND ACADEMIC LITERACY: A SRI LANKAN PERSPECTIVE ON SECONDARY EDUCATION CHALLENGES

Academic reading proficiency is critical for students' success in secondary and higher education, particularly in English as a Second Language (ESL) contexts such as Sri Lanka.Despite the growing importance of English for academic and professional development, a significant gap exists between the ESL curriculum and the actual academic reading demands placed on students.This article investigates the underlying challenges and offers strategic pathways to bridge this gap.Using a qualitative, document-based approach, the study analyses secondary data, national curriculum guidelines, and classroom observations to explore the linguistic, psychological, sociocultural, and pedagogical barriers that impede the development of academic reading skills in Sri Lankan secondary schools.