The School of Social Work

The School of Social Work is the largest and oldest division of the National Institute of Social Development. This division conducts professional social work degree programmes. The School of Social Work offers professional Social Work degrees in Sri Lanka. Currently, the School of Social Work is offering four academic programs, namely, Diploma in Social Work, Higher Diploma in Social Work, Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work.

The Social Work education was started in Sri Lanka in 1952. That initiative was given by Dr. Dorathy Mosess from the University of Delhi in India. At the time there were only short-term training programmes conducted by the institute. It was established under the name Institute of Social Work, as a non-governmental organization. It was named as the Ceylon School of Social Work in 1964 and functioned under the Ministry of Social welfare as a government institution. The School was renamed as the Sri Lanka School of Social Work in 1972. The Diploma in Social Work commenced in 1978 as a full-time two-year programme in local languages. The Bachelor of Social Work Honours course was started in 2005.

The aims and objectives of implementing these programs can be stated as follows:
1. Introducing new programs for Social Work education
2. Upgrading existing educational programs
3. Using IT and English in Social Work education
4. Planning and implementing programmes for obtaining professional recognition
5. Producing professional Social Workers for social development and social empowerment