Foreign languages to be taught in rural schools too

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardane focussing on the need of schoolchildren learning foreign languages said that graduate teachers will soon be appointed to public schools to teach Chinese, French, Korean and Japanese languages in addition to English l the Language.

According to statistics, most schoolchildren in today's society prefer foreign languages in addition to the English Language as local and foreign job opportunities are aplenty for those who have a knowledge of foreign languages.

"Unlike in the past, most school leavers secure tourism related jobs here and abroad and also join airlines. Therefore, learning foreign languages is essential to them,"he said.

Referring to existing job opportunities in Korea for Sri Lankan workers, the Minister said a large number of Sri Lankans are presently showing a keen interest to learn the Korean language.

He said schoolchildren in the country should therefore take a keen interest in foreign languages from now onwards, so that they could easily access better jobs in the future.

The Minister said under a Government directive the teaching of foreign languages will be conducted even in schools in the rural sector as securing foreign jobs by the rural sector has greatly increased during the past several months.

He said there are vacancies for teachers who have excelled in foreign languages and they intend to select such teachers after a competitive examination."Only those who are very capable with the necessary educational qualifications to teach foreign languages will be selected", he added.

Southern highway extended to Hambantota

The Government has decided to extend the Southern highway to Hambantota and a feasibility study is being done in this regard, Ministry of Highways sources said .

The country's first highway from Kottawa to Galle is expected to be extended upto Matara under the second phase which is to commence next year.

Work on the extension of the southern highway to Hambantota too will commence at the same time .

The acquisition of land from Galle to Matara for the highway and payment of compensation to those concerned has already begun, the Ministry sources said.

It is expected to complete the Galle to Matara section by 2013. Although the first phase from Kottawa to Galle has already been completed, the opening of the Southern expressway for motor traffic will be delayed as the signalling and access points had not been completed.

The government had scheduled to open the roadway from Galle to Colombo for motor traffic in September, the Ministry sources said.

With the opening of the road travel time for a vehicle from Colombo to Galle will be reduced to one and half hours from three hours.

News in brief

by Rohana Jayalal

Work on Beira Lake Tourist Zone Project in progress

The Beira Lake Tourist Zone Project initiated by the Urban Development Authority and the Colombo Municipal Council is being carried out successfully.

The project is being implemented at a cost of over Rs. 30 million and the work includes the construction of the first chain bridge in Sri Lanka. The foul smell that emanated from the Beira Lake and which was a major environmental hazard in Colombo has now been completely eliminated.

The areas surrounding the lake have been developed under the City Beautification Project, carried out jointly by the Urban Development Authority and the Colombo Municipal Council. Seating facilities for 500 tourists have been constructed in Kaladuwa which can be approached by the 78 metre long chain bridge .

The management of the project was undertaken by the Urban Development Authority while the construction work was carried out by the State Engineering Corporation.

Recruitment of trainee teachers

The Ministry of Education is planning to admit 3,500 teacher trainees to the Colleges of Education next year. According to the Ministry of Education ,over 62,500 applicants have been submitted for admission to the National Colleges of Education next yea and out of them 3,500 will be selected for teacher training.

A competitive examination in relation to recruiting teacher trainees for English and Information Technology subjects is to be held in October. Applicants will be selected for Buddhism and physical education courses through interviews giving priority to their skills in the relevant fields.

For the rest of the courses, applicants will be selected based on their Z-score at the G.C.E Advanced Level examinations. The majority of the candidates will be selected for primary teacher training.

The National Colleges of Education recruit students who have got through their Advanced Level examination, for teacher training and they are appointed to schools countrywide after a two-year college education and one-year internship in schools.

Special housing scheme in the North

The Housing and Common Amenities Ministry is to commence a special housing scheme for the newly resettled internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the North.

The scheme is to be implemented jointly by the Housing and Common Amenities Ministry and the Resettlement Ministry.

Under the scheme 1,000 houses will be built in the North and the first phase would see the construction of 50 houses in Panikkakulam, Mullaitivu. Each family is to be given a total of Rs 300,000 under the scheme.

The National Housing Authority is to provide Rs 200,000 as a loan at a concessionary interest rate while the Resettlement Ministry would provide Rs 100,000 to them as a grant.

The Housing and Common Amenities Ministry and the Resettlement Ministry have planned to build 200 houses per year in all five districts in the Northern Province.