e-village project in 500 new schools

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said in Parliament yesterday that the e-village project will be implemented in 500 new schools.

Minister Gunawardena said that the e-village project was launched in 2007. This project is to promote information and communication technology and English language among their students during the next two years.

The Government plans to establish connections between villages, schools, Government and private sector institutions, different voluntary organizations and over 500 Nenasala Centres under ICTA.

It has also been aimed to streamline the using of all communication methods and multimedia in schools.

Among the objectives of the e-village project is to contribute directly to the enhancement of knowledge about English language, ensuring maximum benefits for rural population, creating employment and business opportunities based on information and communication technology. Initially, the project was launched among 50 schools in nine provinces covering the North and the East.

The Minister said that plans are afoot to further extend the project to more schools.

The services of institutions like JICA and the Toastmasters Club would be obtained for this purpose.

He said many Governmental and private sector organizations such as ADB, the Presidential Secretariat, Microsoft Sri Lanka Institute, e-wis Company and the Intel Foundation have assisted in the launching of the e-village project.