4.3 million schoolchildren to benefit:

Web Patasala to boost students’ IT knowledge

by Ananda Kannangara

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardane commended the launch of the `Web Patasala’ school Website program and called upon the 4.3 million schoolchildren, especially those pursuing higher studies, to expand their computer literacy since it will help them secure job opportunities after completing their school education.

He said the objective of launching such an Information Technology program for the first in Sri Lanka is to educate schoolchildren on the importance of using the internet.

He said children in almost all schools in the country have received the opportunity to improve their computer literacy due to the setting up of computer laboratories even in remote schools.

The newly introduced `Web Patasala’ program will also improve their knowledge on international affairs through the internet.

Minister Gunawardane told the Sunday Observer that children could also gather information for their educational activities through the internet from the `Web Patasala’ program.

The new program will immensely help our schoolchildren to broaden their knowledge on international studies,” he said.

The Minister said `Web Patasala’ was a concept of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to empower the student generation with information technology. The program would be further developed by providing schools free laptops with internet facilities.

He said the first phase of the distribution of free laptops has already commenced and 340 schools islandwide have already received laptop computers along with dongals.

Minister Gunawardane also reminded the audience about the Government’s novel program of developing 5,000 schools and assured that all these schools will be provided with laptops and internet connections, so that the knowledge on computers and the internet will be acquired by all children not only in the urban areas, but also in rural areas.

He thanked the State Trading Corporation and the Etisalat company for helping to make ‘Web Patasala’ a success.