SLIIT contributes to broadening the horizons of education in Sri Lanka
View(s):
The coronavirus pandemic has overturned the established norms of education in the country from pre-school learning to university education affecting over four million students. However, if this crisis is taken as an opportunity for all, especially to reshape the education system, classrooms can be transformed virtually overnight from physical units into digital ones.
SLIIT, Sri Lanka’s largest non-state degree awarding institute, through various initiatives helping the nation to broaden the horizons of education ensuring this time of crisis is also an opportunity for all education systems to look into the future, and build their capacity.
Discussing the opportunities and possibilities the coronavirus pandemic has posed in creating new shifts in education, Prof. Lalith Gamage, Vice Chancellor/ CEO, SLIIT said, “Though earlier technology was not placed at a high level, today its role has been elevated quickly. Technology has helped revolutionize education and there is a need to do this. We are working with National Institute of Education (NIE), the Education Ministry and together we are trying our best to ensure that we bring the classroom to the children’s homes.”
A massive effort has been launched leveraging the potential of ICT to make sure children keep learning. The NIE and Ministry of Education recently introduced the ‘Guru Gedara’ programme offering free educational television lessons. The Channel Eye of Rupavahini has been dedicated full-time for the programme since 20th April. The aim is to strengthen the education process of school children in the country and to ensure they continue their education with as little interruption as possible. The programme covers Grades 5, Ordinary Level and Advanced Level curricula.
Dr. Malitha Wijesundara, Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, stated “As an institution SLIIT has always been recognised for its technological innovation in education. Given the disruption caused to school children and the uncertainty surrounding their education we were able successfully contribute in supporting the authorities to rapidly deploy the necessary educational technology and expertise to help the younger generation to study from home.”
Demonstrating the success of this initiative, according to SLIIT statistics, the final recording of Phase 1 of the Guru Gedara programme documented a total of 168.5 hours of lessons in 23 days. More than 50 academics including two well-known professors of SLIIT took part in the recordings, successfully engaging students in Grade 12 and 13 in Sinhala medium.
Prof. S.R.D. Rosa and Prof. Sriyani E. Peiris of the Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT delivered engaging lectures in Physics and Agriculture for Advanced Level students.
Lectures for subjects such as Mathematics, Physics, Accounting, Engineering Technology, Biosystems Technology, Science for Technology, Agricultural Science, Business Studies, Chemistry, Sinhala, Commerce were conducted ensuring the students benefitted from the lessons provided.
Prof. Colin N. Peiris, Director/Academic Development and Quality Assurance noted, “We understand that schools and universities have not faced this form of disruption in generations and we are committed to helping everyone have positive learning experiences. The entire SLIIT team has shouldered this responsibility and we are proud of the contribution towards Guru Gedara in helping children continue their education purposefully.”
SLIIT too now delivers lectures daily to over 9300 students via the institution’s advanced online platform, ensuring an uninterrupted and excellent online teaching and learning experience.
The SLIIT team which worked tirelessly to contribute towards the Guru Gedara programme included Dr. Malitha Wijesundara, Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences; Prof. Colin N. Peiris, Director, Academic Development & Quality Assurance; Mr. Uditha Gamage, Director, Development & Engineering Services; Major General Lal Gunasekara, Head, Projects, Campus Safety & Security; Mr. Kumudu Gurugalgoda, Manager, ITSD; and Mr. Gayan Weligama, Senior Systems Engineer. Mr. Ishara Gamage & Mr. Thausithanjana Thilakarathna, lecturers of the Faculty of Computing, shouldered the responsibility of quickly editing the recordings to be telecasted on time.