NorthEast project aims to increase proficiency in English

[TamilNet, Saturday, 01 April 2006, 17:55 GMT]
Mr.R.Thiagalingam, Provincial Education Ministry Secretary Saturday inaugurated the first English Medium Activity Camp-2006 for North East province at Trincomalee Sri Shanmuga Hindu Ladies College. To promote English medium education among students, central ministry of education has launched a project to hold English Medium Activity Camp in each province. The central ministry selected Trincomalee Shanmuga Hindu Ladies College for the North East, department sources said.

At the commencement of the event, guests were taken to the venue with the school band in attendence.

Principal Ms Chandra Balasubramaniam said in her welcome address that English medium activity camp is launched to develop English medium education in schools. Though belated it is a good start to popularize the study of English language, which is a world language.

She added that her college has the privilege of being selected in order to represent the NorthEast in this novel educational development program, which is going to be an activity based learning project. She wanted this facility to be extended to other schools in the province.

Mr.Thiagalingam, chief guest said, "we should create a new generation that should be marketable in the public and private sectors. Our young generation will benefit immensely if they are proficient in English. English is playing the role of link language that could promote better understanding between communities."

Mr.Thiagalingam added that he has learnt that the number of students following English medium education in the NorthEast schools is significantly increasing.

Seventy schools in the province have started English medium education to students. Some schools are conducting English medium education from Grade 6. Plans are afoot to increase the number of schools by twenty this year, according to Mr.V.Sriskandarajah, Provincial Assistant Director of Education who is in charge of the project in the NorthEast.

North East Provincial Department of Education is taking steps to organize English medium activity camp in every school in the province, he added.