English as a lifeline

By Sarath Wijesinghe

[email protected]

English is an Indo-European, West German language originated in England, and is the First Language to most people in the Anglophone, Caribbean, Australia, Canada, New Zeeland, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States. People from Northwest Germany invaded Eastern England in the 5th centenary AD, and consolidated themselves and the language on the British Soil.

It is the second official language of the world especially Commonwealth countries and the first language of 309-400 million and the second language to 199-1400 million also spoken by a billion people world wide.

Its composition is: French 41 percent, Native 33 percent, Latin 15 percent, Danish 2 percent, Dutch 1 percent and other 10 percent. Any language widely used beyond the population of its own is called “Lingua Franca”.

English belongs to this category and is the language commonly used in commerce, business, IT, aerospace, communications, education and as a link language worldwide. English possess official states in 53 countries and is one of the official languages of the United Nations.

India has more people that speak or understand English taken any other country in the world and still maintains the standards of the language.

Global language

English has become the “Global Language” belonging to the “Global Village” and the British has conceded this reality. French, Italians, Spanish, Danish and Dutch have controlling power centers and governing bodies to protect and enhance their respective languages but not for the English language by the British though English is growing worldwide on its own at a rate.

It is an international, global, world, common and general language which is used as a lifeline and a tool and a life skill worldwide.

Education Secretary Clark has warned of “arrogance” of English speakers which speaks thousand words of the attitude of the Englishman for liberalisation of their language which has now taken over by the world.

It no longer belongs to England alone.

In 2000 British Councils estimated potential English Language learners at one billion, which has doubled in a decade.

Next decade a third of the planet will be learning English. It is a basic skill learned by primary age-children rather than older children and of which adults might want to acquire later.

Originated in an island

Knowledge is power. The vehicle to impart knowledge is the language. English has become the main world language by usage of many, simplicity, clarity, availability and the sheer need. A Sinhala trader in Pettah is compelled to posses a working knowledge of Tamil for his survival. English is a must in business, e-commerce, education and travel worldwide. Though it originated in an island, ownership of English is shared by the entire world today.

Some people still say it is language imperialism. It is not so. Imperialism and colonisation has done good as well. We need knowledge and power for our existence. A major portion of the National wealth of any country is allocated to education.

In England Tony Blair always used to say Education, Education and Education - and gave priority to education and health of the future generation. He and the successor Brown is conscious about the shortcomings of education and language skills of students and adults as well.

It may be pleasant news of the learners of English with an inferiority complex that the standard of English education in the UK is not satisfactory. Grammar and spelling skills in India and Sri Lanka may be higher than that of an average student in the United Kingdom as they use slang and the modern E-com developments and computer literacy has retarded the language skills of the average student in the United Kingdom.

In the United Kingdom Education is the responsibility of Department of Children, Schools, and family, Department of innovation, Universities and Skills Department. In Sri Lanka it is the responsibility of the Government. Our population is highly educated and the rate of literacy is in the range of 92 percent, which is one of the highest literacy rates in South Asia.

In 1931 universal franchise was introduced in Sri Lanka and thereafter education was free. Today we have 9830 public schools and close to 4,030,000 students in Sri Lanka. The number of students in private schools are not computed. Medium of education is Sinhala, Tamil or English.

Elite colleges and “International Schools” offer English medium education and English language training of some slandered. There are National Schools, Provincial schools, Pirivanas, Private Schools and International Schools.

International schools are not regulated and it is doubtful whether these schools are really international. There is and increase of private schools due to the emergence of the upper middle class and the craze to educate children as an investment. In the absence of a proper social security system as in the United Kingdom, parents tend to invest on the education of their children thereby education has become a lucrative business and an easy way of exploiting desperate parents.

Easy prey

With difficulties parents somehow find funds for education of the children in Sri Lanka and abroad, for which English is an essential ingredient. The tuition culture has set in and there is mass scale exploitation by tutories (small and large scale private classes), private and international schools, of students and parents who have become easy prey and victims. Education in Sri Lanka is competitive.

Less than 12 percent of 16,000 students could find places in universities. The number of unemployed graduates are significant. The Open University offers many study courses while the Law College, CIMA, BCS, AOCA, and private and state training centers offer some places which are grossly inadequate.

Unemployment is less in Sri Lanka which is facing underemployment. Any body with a good working knowledge of English and E-com could comfortably find employment in the private sector. There are many employment opportunities abroad for English educated youth.

English was considered a symbol of social status sometime back and there was resentment, vengeance and jealousy on the English educated. Today things have changed. Everybody wants to learn English and it has become the craze and the fashion of the day which is a good sign.

Correct timing

There is no dispute that English Education should be encouraged and improved. What is the procedure and who will bell the cat in this challenging exercise is important. The initiative of President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the enhancement of Job-oriented English language skills is a step in the right direction and the timing is correct and perfect.

Strategic framework and fast tract activity plan presented by Advisor to the President Sunimal Fernando on the subject English as a life skill has spelt out the strategy and a working plan with partners from India which is an emerging world power and from whom we can learn and acquire experience.

English was forced on us and the commonwealth by British Colonial

Masters, for their convenience. They are the largest empire in history and in 15th century the foremost global power, which controlled quarter of the world population.

It is inevitable English captured the trademark and became the most powerful world language. We should be happy to be colonised by English rather than any other nation as in any event we being a small nation was bound to be under the control of a superior power during the world wars.

During the colonial rule a small section of the privileged society was educated in English and embraced the western culture as a mode of social status and power. A privileged class was created who took control of the education, economy and the entire fabric of the society.

English became a symbol of power and as a result there was anti English movement by the majority who were denied of a reasonable position in the society. English is a lifeline, a tool for future successful living and a life skill. No dispute that it has to be improved, strengthened and broadbased.

The standards of English and teaching are low and with the usage of the language for number of decades, only 2 to 8 percent of the population has some spoken and working knowledge in English. It is still a privilege and facility enjoyed by few.

According to a survey conducted by the Presidential Secretariat there are 1690 private English tutories and 21,000 Government English teachers and unregulated “International Schools” in the country to cater to the growing demand for English Education. The service offered and standards maintained by English teachers and institutions are grossly inadequate and incomplete.

But the good news is that our society has realized the need and value of English education and there is a growing demand and efforts to acquire this lifeline, which has become a necessary tool for a better life in the present economic and world order.

In fairness to our workforce here and abroad investors and employers have a good word on the efficiency, conduct and the knowledge of English of our employees, which is improving fast. No compulsion necessary for the development and improvement of this necessary skill as the society on its own is taking measures to enhance the knowledge and skill.

A number of English institutions are expanding day by day. I know of a teacher who conducts private classes around the clock, all over the country. Some classes have over 800 students. There are doubts on the ability, knowledge and competency of this teacher who is a good orator who can impress students.

Some students travel from far away and spend an enormous sum to learn English. In the process there are occasions of exploitation, misuse and substandard offers of education. These individuals and institutions should be monitored and regulated and facilities should be given to improve their skills.

Grossly inadequate

We are informed that the knowledge of English and competency of government English teachers are low and grossly inadequate. In this context the mega project launched by the Presidential Secretariat is well-timed and is beneficial to all. It helps the people, economy, developments and the whole country.

The State is no longer the major employment provider worldwide. English has emerged as the global language of educational and trade, and is a common medium that provides educational mobility and credit transferability across the world.

The project launched has identified the short and long-term solutions which will act as a catalyst in the development of individuals and the society as a whole. Educational institutes play a vital role in providing human resources for the job market advancement of knowledge and development.

In this era of globalisation, the job market boundaries faded and thus the responsibility on the educational institutions to adhere to standards acceptable at the global level has gained tremendous significance.

The Presidential Secretariat has identified leading educational institutions in India to offer their services to the government and their private counterparts in Sri Lanka. Direct involvement of the Governor of the Central Bank, BoI, Minister of Education and Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion indicates that the promoters have taken it very serious.

There is a plan to provide a linkage between potential supply of skills and potential demand for skills. The visiting Indian companies are competent, experienced and proved themselves by taking the nation close to a world power mainly with human resources and modern technology. It is time for us to work hand in hand with our great neighbor without depending on distant providers of help.

Lucrative business

British Councils and BBC are also in the forefront in English Education. British Councils are expensive and congested. They are not in touch with the real needs and difficulties of learners. On the other hand the demand is so high that they are unable to cater to the requirements and there is ample room for new players to enter in this lucrative business.

Sri Lankan students study all over the world by spending billions as parents are lavish in investing for their children. English is the passport for education and exposure and a prerequisite to education employment or success. We need not be angry or jealous of anybody as this is the reality. Therefore all efforts must be made and resources should be utilised on this exercise. We must learn to learn from other success stories.

BBC has launched a vigorous and successful English Education Channels with all modern systems and technologies. Eighty percent of our population has televisions and over 95 percent listen to the radio.

This is the best way to reach the general public awaiting assistance to acquire the lifeline. We are pleased to note that the organisers of the project have considered this aspect in implementing this project.

“Nena Salas” and the Government Information Service (1919 service) as a back up force”

These are modern and unique concepts, which are not found in any other country. Even in the UK, EU, USA or any developing country there is no centralised organisation for State information as in Sri Lanka. They have information units of various ministries and departments but not as organised and systemised as in Sri Lanka.

In the United Kingdom the concept of Citizen Advice Bureau (CAB) Centres are available to provide information and assistance to the public on any subject, but the service offered by “CAB” is limited and controlled.

In fact this is a concept we should follow with our unique inventions, along with the legal aid system in UK which is the most developed in the world. Today with the help of 1919, information of selected 20 State organisations are available to the public supported by Nena Salas which are modern E-com centers set up island wide.

“1919” is a brainchild of the President implemented by the able and energetic Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and the extended secretarial staff with hard work and research of a number of years.

As a head of an organisation, I too was fortunate to take part in this exercise from the initial stages and my experience in other jurisdictions helped me to realize the value and uniqueness of the strategy.

Now it is time to make use of all resources in the current venture which will be an opening to the future development and prosperity.

Nena Salas could be upgraded and the business community in the area may be requested to fund and manage their day-to-day work and English projects, in the interest of the country and their own interest as English language skills is badly in need for the country as a whole and especially to the business community.

The attitude and thinking on English (Kaduwa) has changed today. Everybody has realised that it is a tool and a lifeline without which we are unable to keep pace with the modern trends and fast developing world.

Our students and the people are smart, sharp and educated. They have realised the value and need of English. But there are psychological and social factors which retards the developments of this powerful tool... There is a misconception that we must speak and write perfect English only.

This is a myth. International Auxiliary Language or inter language is a language meant for communication between people from different nations who do not share a common language as auxiliary language is predominately a second language. So we are trying to use this as our second language for our own benefit.

There is no barometer to measure good English. Good English is the language which is understood and could be made use of as a link language and a business language. Academics language which is confine to few academics should not be mixed with general and international English language.

Media Language is simple straight and commonly used. The project launched by the Presidential Secretariat is able to fill this gap and act as a guiding force and a catalyst for the State and private partnership in education.

In England where English originated and in the English speaking world the spoken and Grammar is not up to the expected standards. There are thousands who do not speak and write proper English in the United Kingdom alone where the language is originated.

Therefore please do not worry about making mistakes during the learning process as it is human to make mistakes and learn from mistakes. We need to use English to acquire power and as a vehicle to prosperity, without which we will be a backward nation forever.