There is a dire need to enhance the English language standards in schools of developing countries using English as a second or Foreign language, due to its importance in employability and high-earning ability in the job market. Enhancing English language standards in schools is vital to improving the English language competence of school leavers and undergraduates to achieve an English language quality level as a nation, to produce diversified graduates of global quality, to address the unemployability problem in developing countries. Sri Lanka, with a rich history of a colonial era, is no exception. Studies on the influence of Socio-Economic factors of stakeholders on improving the English language standards in schools had received poor attention from past researchers, especially in the Sri Lankan education context. Hence, the overall purpose of this study is to develop a theoretical model, to explore the impact of socio-economic factors of stakeholders on English Language Standards in Sri Lankan schools. The study reviewed reliable secondary data published in scholarly extant literature, government Policy Documents, Research Reports of reputed institutions, etc., relevant to the above primary relationship and key concepts of the study. Six main stakeholders in the socio-economic context of the school English Language education were identified: (i) Education Policy Makers, (ii) School Management, (iii) School Principals, (iv) English Language Teachers, (v) Students, and (vi) Parents. An integrated, seven-construct conceptual model, labeled ‘ELS Model’ (English Language Standard Model), was developed, to examine the impact of socio-economic factors of the six stakeholders on improving English Language Standards in schools. This ELS Model presents original insights and future directions to scholars/researchers and significant implications for policymakers.

This paper presents the findings of a study that investigated the nexus between the parental level of education and the level of the English language achievement at the Ordinary Level (O/Level) Examination. Determining how socio-economic factors affect the achievement level of English, exploring what socio-economic factors affect the achievement of the English language, and identifying the primary socio-economic factors were the objectives. A non-experimental cross-sectional research design was used in conducting the study. The sample consisted of 291 volunteer participants from six schools in the western province. We administered a research-team designed Likert scale type questionnaire to gather the data. The instrument was pilot-tested with 74 participants. In a statistical approach to data analysis, a regression analysis was run in SPSS (version 26). Findings showed that the English language proficiency of the participants increased by 0.691 for each education level of the father, and it was increased by 0.789 for each education level of the mother. Equitable teaching of the English language, availing more time and classwork to improve the achievement levels of the English language, and using quality inputs to give more support to the students who receive lower grades were suggested as part of recommendations.