A customized language programme called 'English for Life' launched by the John Keells Social Responsibility Foundation (JKSRF) is expected to harness basic career skills, aiming to enhance the employment prospects, sustainability of skills and employment retention of eligible youth.
A company press release stated that the programme, launched in November 2008 and developed by the Gateway Language Centre for John Keells, focuses on teaching business English together with basic IT and career skills to the 17 to 25 age group.
According to the press release, the JKSRF recognized the crucial need for empowerment and employability through enhancement of English language skills as far back as 2004 through the launch of their English Language Scholarship Programme.
The press release further stated that with increasing globalization, competitive job markets, rise in new media and the Internet, the true meaning of 'literacy' expands to include not merely language competency, but also Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and 'soft skills'.
The Government of Sri Lanka has markedly recognized the need for a holistic approach towards gaining literacy as President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared 2009 the year of English and ICT.
The President said his Government lays emphasis on the unmistakable need to urgently equip the people, especially the youth, with proficiency in the English language and to provide them with access to computers and Internet facilities, through the rapid development of use of information technology.
JKSRF Manager Carmeline Jayasuriya noted that English and ICT comprehension are generally identifiable areas for improvement in our country's employable youth. She commented that while job seekers had many skills and specialties, English and ICT aptitude was generally lacking, thereby placing them at a disadvantage. The popularity of the programme has palpably grown with this year's applicant rate reaching almost 4000, exceeding last year's by 1000.
Following a placement test set by Gateway, they hope to enroll 1,200 scholars this year. The scholarships cover course and examination fees, textbooks and other course material. Intensive classes are conducted over a period of two months at 12 centres island wide, including Jaffna, Batticoloa, Trincomalee, Vavuniya, Anuradhapura, Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Kalutara, Ampara and Gampaha. |
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