Cabinet memorandum submitted to set up Regional English support centres

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in her capacity as Minister of Education has submitted a Cabinet memorandum to set up regional English support centres at education zonal level.

Setting up of English support centres is among a number of special measures taken by the Education Ministry to improve the quality of English education imparted in schools, said an Education Ministry release yesterday.

The continuous English Teacher Education programs are among the other special measures taken by the Ministry to improve the quality of English Education. These programs are conducted at the Peradeniya English Teachers' College and at 30 other English Support Centres in various Provinces. Feedback from teachers and teacher educators has confirmed that residential teacher training programs have proved more successful.

The release said continuous teacher training facilities are very essential for teachers engaged in teaching English as a second language and selected subjects in English as well as Primary school teachers conducting activity related oral English programs. Nearly 30,000 teachers have joined these training programs.

Since Regional English support centres are in busy environments with limited space devoid of residential facilities, these English training programs are mainly concentrated at the Peradeniya English Teacher Training School.

The President in her capacity as Education Minister paying special attention to this situation, has now proposed to the Cabinet that Regional English Support Centres should be set up at zonal level throughout the country.

It is proposed to set up four such centres in each Province in 2006 and the balance 60 centres in 2007. Each Regional Centre will be equipped with an auditorium, with a seating capacity for 100 persons, three classrooms with a 30-40 student capacity each, sales centre, a small library and residential hall for 80 persons.

It will also have special quarters for the co-ordinating officer and bachelor quarters for eight employees.

It is also proposed that the building contract be awarded to the Cental Engineering Consultancy Bureau or the State Engineering Corporation.