British High Commission provides English language training to Sri Lankan teachers in conflict-affected areas

The British High Commission in Colombo said that it has recently concluded a project aimed to improve the English language proficiency of teachers in the Northern and Eastern Provinces through direct training of local trainers who in turn will train other teachers in the two provinces.

The 'Classroom Language project', conducted in two main stages, trained Master Trainers, and then trained selected English teachers. The training sessions were held in Jaffna and Trincomalee.

The British High Commission has provided �13,000, approximately 2.3 Million rupees, for the through its Bilateral Programme Fund (BPF) in 2009 -2010.

The High Commission says the English language is a 'bridge builder' between different ethnic groups in conflict-affected areas in Sri Lanka and there has been an urgent need to provide the existing English teachers with effective training and support systems and to make improvements to the general provision and quality of English Language teaching.

The Sri Lankan Ministry of Education and the National Institute of Education assisted this project through Regional English Support Centres (RESCs) and Zonal Education Officers. The Eastern Provincial Council also supported the project through recommending teachers to join the course and providing training venues.