POP for new university entrants

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

The Pre-orientation Programme (POP) for new university entrants was inaugurated wednesday. It was organized by the Higher Education Ministry along with the National On-line Distance Education Service (NODES) in 250 NODES centres islandwide.

'The second step in the leadership training and positive thinking development programme was conducted in a successful manner and this English and IT courses will also help develop students' knowledge.

It helps students to have a basic knowledge about using modern technology tools in their higher education lessons,said Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake.

Minister Dissanayake was addressing a press briefing held at the University Grants Commission wednesday.

'There is a good feedback for the leadership training programmes from students and their parents. They have shown interest in the POP as well, he said.

He said that POP is a tailor made programme for new university entrants to improve their English, IT and soft skills.

This will be conducted for a period of two and half months before students enter the universities. Under this programme, students will be given an opportunity to sharpen their knowledge in English Language and Information Technology.

The course has been designed and coordinated by both local and foreign professors, lecturers and instructors. Newly trained teachers have been recruited for conducting the English courses and instructors of the Education Ministry will conduct the IT courses.

Presently, over 13,000 students have faced the on-line placement tests and 50 percent of them have failed. They must follow the above courses.

Others also have the opportunity to follow the courses if they wish.

The Higher Education Ministry will conduct one day workshops for university entrants to make them aware of the environment, conflict management and social harmony.

The first group who participated in the leadership training programme will be eligible for the first step of POP and the second step of this programme is to begin on July 25, the minister said.

Higher Education Ministry Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Nawaratne, UGC Chairman Prof. S. V. D. G. Samaranayake, UGC Special Instructor Dr. Yasanthi Mapatuna, POP National Coordinator Dr. Nihal Dayawansha and NODES director S.T. Nandasara also participated.