Oracle signs MoU with Education Ministry

Harshini Perera

A global knowledge-based society requires radical reforms to the conventional education system and the students need to acquire 21st century skills through project learning, Oracle Education Initiatives Asia Pacific and Japan, Senior Director, Krishna Sistla said.

He was speaking at the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Education Ministry and the Oracle Education Foundation to provide ThinkQuest Projects to more than 25,000 students from 500 accredited schools over the next three years.

"The Oracle Education Foundation's partnership with the Education Ministry is a testament to our commitment to building a knowledge economy in Sri Lanka. By providing students in Sri Lanka with access to ThinkQuest, we empower them to broaden their horizons and develop critical skills they need for life and work in the 21st Century," he said.

ThinkQuest is a protected, online learning platform that helps students to develop important 21st Century skills such as research skills, design and planning skills, problem solving, product and artefact creation skills and communication skills.

Oracle Education Foundation has trained 44 teachers from 19 government and private schools across Colombo and its suburbs on how to integrate technology, project learning and 21st century skills development into their curricula.

Five hundred teachers from junior and higher secondary schools in Sri Lanka will have the opportunity to participate in teacher-training sessions on the ThinkQuest projects environment to help their students to gain vital business and technology skills.

Over 25,000 students and teachers will benefit from the ThinkQuest Projects Learning Platform in Sri Lanka.