Lanka's education system should adapt to technological revolution- Education Minister

Rafik Jalaldeen

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's education system should be geared to face international challenges by adapting itself to the technological revolution, Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha said.

"Our object is to provide all opportunities to students so that they would attain these standards,the Minister said at a function to mark World Teachers' Day held at the BMICH.

He said all the 9,785 schools in the island would be provided IT education by 2008. 136 schools were provided with computers yesterday to mark the occasion, Minister Premajayantha added.

The World Teachers' Day was held under the patronage of Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayake and the Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha at the BMICH yesterday.

Representing President Mahinda Rajapaksa the Premier read out the President's a message at the function.

An "Online Education" programme also was launched yesterday. Around 25 selected schools from rural and urban areas were provided this Online facility.

This would enable students to communicate with the outside world to obtain information via the Internet.

The Online programme was facilitated by Dialog Telekom.

"Quality teachers for quality education to empower the next generation" was the theme to commemorate World Teachers' Day for 2006.

Minister Premajayantha emphasised the need for equal opportunity and for education for all.

"On this occasion we should all recall with gratitude the memory of late Minister C.W.W. Kannangara, the Father of Free Education. By this move he made it possible for a 92% literacy rate among our population which is the highest in South Asia", the Minister said.

"Today is the day which was determined as the World Teachers' Day in 1990 in Costa Rica. The role played by teachers should be appreciated by all and their efforts commended", he added.

He said "50,000 teachers selected from all around the country will be provided computers.

These teachers will receive Information and Technology training to improve their computer skill", Minister Premajayantha said. Adding to that he said that teachers will be able to obtain loans from the Bank of Ceylon and National Savings Bank to procure a computer.

Teachers and principals should be motivated. They should be provided with management and school governing training.

"Students in rural areas will receive facilities to communicate with the city school students. Students in rural areas can have the same knowledge of the city school students through the introduction of "Distance learning".

The School Net programme will be launched to develop distance learning with the association of 1,000 schools, 90 teacher organisations and the University of Colombo", the Minister pointed out.