To meet today’s education demands:

YESL to make a difference

Education in Sri Lanka present more questions than answers. In the recent past it has become an interesting topic for discussion although without much topic results.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) in its report on Achieving Excellence with Equity “ A vision making a difference in education 2001” articulates the primary goals of the Education Reform proposals as thus.

(a)”To provide a system of education that would equip students with the necessary knowledge skills and attitudes to improve them and to make them employable and productive citizens of Sri Lanka, and

(b) To create generations of young people with correct values, compassion and care towards fellow citizens and who will be able to live with tolerance towards one another.

The national curriculum policy finally decided on a frame work which identified the needs serve the emergent economy, meeting its challenges and utilizing its opportunities through development of entrepreneurship.

It also prescribed that learning has to be a pleasurable activity and to follow activity based learning -teaching.

The NEC report noticed the low priority given to counseling and guidance opportunities in the school programme and proposed to take remedial action on a priority basis.

This is a crisis which has been faced by almost all the countries which are emerging as developing or modern, nations.

To meet the present challenges to provide an education system to meet the demands of today’s world, a great innovation adopted in the US sometime ago has been successfully copied by many developed and developing countries in the recent past bringing some lime light to Sri Lankan education field, too.

Junior Achievement Worldwide introduced to Sri Lankan schools on a staggered basis from 1998 to 2008, has by now impacted over 40,000 students, 1500 teachers and 400 principals.

The ideal of JA is to value the belief in the boundless potential of young people, commitment to the principles of market based economics and entrepreneurship. Young Entrepreneurs Sri Lanka (YESL) a local non profit organization brought together private sector, public sector participation in providing an alternative supplement to support the education attainments of the child through hands on experience and exposure to real life situations.

“These programmes motivate the child of all ages in the school to test their abilities creativity, innovation and exploration with team work, problem solving and entrepreneurship” said Premasiri Weliwita, CEO of YESL.

In Sri Lankan schools the JA programmes are implemented from Grade 1 through Grade 13 providing viable alternatives to answer many of the ills and shortcomings identified by the authorities and scholars as quoted above.

He emphasized that it uses simple English very effectively promoting the child to use the pertinent level of English with confidence in recording and presenting both verbal and written.

Kids follow enterprising games, stories, life stories and true to life business ventures, plan and implement projects, compete and share with peers.

“A unique feature in JA is to invite the adults from the trades to inspire the kids in their daily classrooms with child-friendly and attractive materials and methods both the learner and the teacher enjoy the progress of the activities leading to learning by doing” he added.

As for the kids, to learn without partnership nothing in education can flourish. YESL has realized that although it reached some satisfaction by bringing in scattered interests to focus on one approach there is more to be done.

The Ministry of Education has pushed this programme to be conducted in as many schools as possible.

The private sector businesses who are supposed to be the engine of growth in emerging economies such as Sri Lanka is yet to realize the full potential it provides for the business sector to exhibits their responsibility towards the children by helping them to make a lasting difference in their youthful voyage.

YESL extends the programme free of charge to all categories of schools depending on the sponsorships extended by the businesses or concerned parties. It also conducts special programmes to train the students of high risk groups such as Street children, girl children of disadvantaged and plantation sector, displaced and fisheries communities, etc supported by sponsoring agents.

It is important to note the success of individuals and groups of children who have vastly improved in their behaviours and social habits apart from schoolwork.

“With a remarkable success in economic activities, presentation skills job hunting skills, future planning and even volunteering they even extend their talents and skills across the borders of Sri Lanka” said Weliwita.

YESL has the capacity to expand to cover many more kids from all walks of life provided that sponsorships are forthcoming to support this programme as a social responsibility and to meet the essential costs.

Anybody and everybody can contribute in many ways such as giving your time, funds, workplace visits, extend the services of your business, donate space or facilities. It is a very good chance for anybody who likes to go to school again to join YESL Contact at [email protected]

Deen Bros. grabs Best Overall  Exhibitors Award
 

Deen Bros Imports (Pvt) Ltd, one of the pioneers in the imports of machinery and tools has for the second time in succession won the coveted ‘Best Overall Exhibitor’s Award for 2008 at the INCO 2008 Exhibition held at the BMICH recently.

Deen Bros Imports (Pvt) Ltd. has its Head Office in Matara and two branches in Sangaraja Mawatha, Colombo 10 and dealer’s islandwide.
They are the sole agents for the famous international brand ‘OREGON’ saw chains; additionally they are importers and distributors of Generators, Lathe Machines, Woodworking Machines, Chain Saws, Brush Cutter and Power Tools.