English language proficiency for undergrads:

MoU signed

Suraj A Bandara

A memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Higher Education Ministry and the United States Embassy in Sri Lanka to empower English language proficiency of undergraduates in Sri Lanka.

A Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) was signed by Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake and US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Patricia Butenis at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel yesterday to offer 10,200 scholarships to Sri Lankan undergraduates to learn the English language from the Education First English town on line language program. Here, Minister S B Dissanayake and US Ambassador Patricia Butenis exchanging the MoU. Picture by Lalith C Gamage

The MoU was signed by Higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake and US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Patricia Butenis at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel yesterday.

The launching ceremony of Education first- English Town on line English Language Skills Development Project for Undergraduates that would be conducted in collaboration with the US embassy in Sri Laka and the Higher Education Ministry also took place on par with the MoU.

The US Government will help enhance English Language Proficiency of new University students in the coming months according to the MoU.

Nearly 10,200 Sri Lankan undergraduates will get scholarships to learn English through the internate. It is targeted to create globally employable graduates, higher Education Minister S B Dissanayake said.

He said opportunities will be offered to the undergraduates who qualify from a basic English course conducted by the universities following their admission to the universities.

Education First English town is a popular on line distant education institute in the US and it will be responsible for the program. The Higher Education Ministry recently reiterated that a General English paper will be made compulsory from this year for GCE Advanced Level students to qualify for university entrance.

Since all new undergraduates will get a laptop under an easy payment scheme.

They will be able to access the internate and follow the course easily.

The Minister said Sri lanka will be the educational hub in Asia and it is compulsory to expand international cooperation in making higher education productive.

He thanked the US Government for the support given to upgrade language proficiency of university students.

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Patricia Butenis said English will help graduates to find lucrative jobs while ensuring their self-confidence to face the society. English will develop reconciliation among the people being the communicative language of all segments.