Introducing new trends in education through Cambridge Exams

‘English for Schools’ an international conference on enhancing the role of English education in schools will be held at the Galadari Hotel on December19 and 20. Organised by the Academy of English and Drama, the event is sponsored by the American Centre, USAID and the British Council.

Regional Representative Cambridge Assessment, Nirmali Hettiarachchi explained that a teacher training programme was held in September this year for 60 teachers from around the country. All the participants sat for the Teaching Knowledge Test (Cambridge Exam) and passed with flying colours. While training other teachers in their respective places, the participants felt the need to regroup, requesting for a refresher course for them and their trainees. Through appeals made to donors, Ms. Hettiarachchi has been able to open the programme to the general public. Not only did the sponsors respond generously, the advertisement also drew good response. Expected to participate are accomplished trainers / resource persons from Britain, US, Thailand and India. Others supporting the event include publishers Cambridge University Press and Orient Longman and the Rotary Club of Colombo, Metropolitan Branch.

“The conferenceis pitched at school teachers’ level,” Ms. Hettiarachchi states as it would enable teachers from international schools, rural schools and tutorial institutes to participate. Significantly, parallel sessions would be held so that teachers can choose sessions pertinent to them. Besides the normal subjects, there would be sessions on Information Technology, How to use IT in the classroom and School Management. Around 400 participants are expected to attend the training programme.

Ms. Hettiarachchi who has been appointed the Representative of Sri Lanka for University of Cambridge International Exams (CIE) since November this year says her responsibility is to make available to all students of schools the array of facilities such as the wide range of exams from Primary to A/Ls, the wide range of subjects and support material offered by CIE besides finding ways of making CIE better known in Sri Lanka. At a recent awards ceremony, prizes were given to high achievers. Interestingly three students from Lyceum received the best grading in the world for literature.

Applauding their achievements, Ms. Hettiarchchi says she has a long hard task ahead to enhance English teaching in schools.
Her long term vision is to provide more opportunities to students and the kind of education that would enable them to hold their own in the world.