ICT-supported English speaking school opened

by Husna Inayathullah

The launch of The English Speaking School (TESS), teaching and testing of English with the help of Information and Communication Technologies was held at the BMICH recently, under the patronage of Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena.

The new program aimed at integrating ICT tools into English teaching and testing was planned and coordinated by the Presidential Secretariat, through the Presidential Task Force on English and IT the Special Initiatives Unit (SIU) of the Secretariat, with a group of partners from both the public and private sectors. This new program was hosted by the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (BCIS).

TESS will be piloted in three schools such as Prince and Princess of Wales Colleges, Moratuwa and Mahinda Rajapaksa College, Pitipana, Homagama.

The Presidential Task Force on English, IT coordinator Dr. Sunimal Fernando said incorporating English the IT would provide the right combination and empowerment for school leavers to be equipped for the demands of higher education on the one hand and for accessing a job market with a high rate of remuneration on the other.

He said the government's program to set up 1,000 language

laboratories in schools will enable English teachers strengthen their capacity using ICT tools.

He said that such laboratories have already been set up at 100 of the 1,000 schools and Minister Bandula Gunawardena plans to provide teachers an opportunity to make use of language laboratories after school hours and on weekends.

"TESS is another milestone in the Governments program-English as a life skill. From today we are developing software which will benefit the students and teacher alike," he said.

"What we are launching today is not a project but a process through which the competence in the English language is to be used as a life skill," he said.

Minister Gunawardena said following the Ministry's decision to test English language listening and speaking skills, marks will be allocated for listening and speaking at the GCE (Ordinary Level) examination from 2015.

He said the students will be able to speak in English in the future and be confident in their lives without merely getting through examinations.

The launch coincided with the 123rd Founder's Day of the Prince and Princess of Wales Colleges, Moratuwa. Additional Solicitor General Suhada Gamlath and Senior Assistant Secretary to the President Deepa Liyanage delivered speeches commemorating the founder, Sir Charles Henry de Soysa, on behalf of the Past Pupils' Associations of respective schools.

Chief Justice Mohan Peiris PC was the Chief Guest and British Council Director Keith Davies represented the United Kingdom at the British High Commission. Deputy Minister Mohan Lal Grero was also present.