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| Thursday, 17 July 2003 |
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The Government has given its utmost priority to impart children with Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills and knowledge of English under the e-SriLanka project, Education Minister Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku said. The Minister speaking at the bi-annual prize giving of the Marjorie de Alwis School held at the Bishop's College auditorium said the Government was spending billions of rupees to train teachers to teach English and to teach in the English medium and to provide facilities in primary and secondary schools. "All this expenditure could have been avoided if the imprudent "Swabhasha only" policy had not been implemented and Kannangara reforms, which took English to the remotest of corners of the country through 54 central Colleges, had been fostered and expanded", t he minister said. Not only that we would have had a generation of human resources far more competent and skillful. Perhaps we would not be talking of an unemployment problem in Sri Lanka today if we had equipped our children with English on a continuing basis. Under the project now being implemented already a few selected subjects are being taught at grade six and seven in over 250 schools. teaching in the English Medium in advanced level classes is being conducted for science in some selected schools. It is our effort to strengthen and expand all schemes", said the minister. "Your school was started in 1966. The aim was to promote the study of English among those children who had very little or opportunity of following a specific course of English in the normal curriculum. Methods adopted were not conventional. More student-friendly techniques were adopted. English was taught through a media of popular activity such as music, verse, song, dance and drama. You made the children to "Learn while they play" Which in fact is your motto. The children who had education at your school were eloquent, confident and were able to swiftly compete and excel in their studies at other schools. They had an edge over others of their grooming at your school", the minister said. "Whilst the efforts of the Government continues, I strongly believe that non-government sector and private sector initiatives in collaboration with education professionals must play a more active role supplementing the government effort. "Those entrepreneur-minded educationists and professionals should take a clue from Marjorie de Alwis School as to how things can be done. Your school in this respect has set a shining example, which has become much more relevant to the current times. This is the more fundamental reason why I accepted the invitation to be here at this prize giving where we would witness these children being recognised", Kodituwakku said. He hoped that educationists and professionals would explore ample opportunities available now in the field of education. Dramatists Henry and Manel Jayasena and the management of Marjorie de Alwis School, parents and students also participated. |
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