India awards 40 ITEC scholarships

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Colombo between India and Sri Lanka for setting up a Three-Tier English Language Training System in Sri Lanka. The MoU was signed by Bandula Gunawardhane, Minister of Education, on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka and Ashok K. Kantha, High Commissioner of India on behalf of the Government of India.

The signing ceremony was attended by Sunimal Fernando, Advisor to the President and convenor, Presidential Task Force on English & IT, H. M. Gunasekera, Secretary, Ministry of Education, officials from Sri Lankan Ministries of External Affairs and Education and large number of teachers, officials from all the nine Provinces of Sri Lanka.

Faculty members from the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad were also present. The MoU will implement the project entitled "India-Sri Lanka Project for Expanding English Language Training in Sri Lanka".

The Government of India shall utilize the services of EFLU, Hyderabad as the technical consultant for this project.

As part of the technical assistance under the MoU, the Government of India will provide training to 40 Sri Lankan teachers at EFLU under the ITEC programme; provide appropriate equipment and teaching aid for setting up a language laboratory of 30 units in each of the nine Provincial Sri Lanka-India Centres for English Language Training (PSLICELTs) and depute experts from EFLU to assist the PSLICELTs.

The technical assistance for English language training programme is being implemented by Government of India as part of the initiative of the President of Sri Lanka to develop "English as a Life Skill". In March 2010, Sri Lanka- India Centre for English Language Training (SLICELT) was set up in Peradeniya with the assistance of the Government of India.

A digital language laboratory was set up at SLICELT, Peradeniya and training of 80 Sri Lankan English Teachers were provided at EFLU, Hyderabad. EFLU also served as technical consultant for the project and deputed two experts, for long-term attachment.

During the visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to India in June 2010, the leaders of both countries agreed to expand SLICELT further by establishing provincial and regional centres with Indian assistance.

The signing of the MoU today is in pursuance of this understanding. High Commissioner Kantha and Minister of Education Bandula Gunawardane distributed the ITEC scholarship and travel documents to 40 master trainers who would be travelling for three-month training programme to EFLU, Hyderabad on September 18, 2011.