India to set up nine language labs in nine provinces

The Indian government is undertaking a project to set up nine language labs in nine provinces.

This is following a commitment made by the Indian government during President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to India in June 2010, reflected in the joint declaration issued on the occasion, a press by the Indian High Commission said yesterday.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between India and Sri Lanka on September 13, 2011 for the setting up of a Three-Tier English Language Training System in Sri Lanka.

The Indian government will provide equipment and teaching aid to set up a language laboratory of 30 computer units in each of the nine provinces.

Tenders were floated to implement the project through a two-bid process. Following the conclusion of the tendering process, the ‘Purchase Order’ was issued to M/s Metropolitan Office (Pvt) Ltd., Colombo, to set up the language labs envisaged in the project at a cost of Rs 84 million.

The project will be implemented under full grant assistance of the Indian government. It will be completed in three months.

The project will help enhance English language training infrastructure in Sri Lanka, raise the general level of proficiency in English language of various sections of society, impart training in the use of English language and familiarise English language teachers from schools, colleges and universities in Sri Lanka on recent trends in English language teaching and upgrade their skills.

The Indian government helped to set up a Centre of English Language Training (CELT) at Peradeniya in 2009.

The assistance included 41 computers for the trainees and teachers, along with sophisticated English learning software and hardware such as projector, screen, photocopier, printer etc.

The Indian government also provided training to 40 Sri Lankan Master Trainers at the English and Foreign Language University, Hyderabad, during 2008-09.

The Indian government has attached top priority to Sri Lanka’s education sector.

A scheme to support school education among the children of upcountry plantation workers through a scholarship programme managed by the Ceylon Estate Workers Education Trust (CEWET), has been in operation since 1947.

The Indian government also has a number of scholarship programmes in Sri Lanka which saw a nearly three-fold increase during Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna visit in January 2012, involving a grant assistance of Rs 2.5 billion over a three year period.

Other projects implemented to assist the education sector include, setting up of 40 Nenasalas (e-Learning Centres) in Eastern, Western and Southern provinces during 2007-10, renovation of 79 war damaged schools in Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya, supply of 1,260 computers and 218 laser printers to 607 schools of the Eastern Province, setting up of a Siddha Faculty at Trincomalee and gifting of 110 buses to education institutions to assist schoolchildren.