[Sri Lanka] Programme to impart computer literacy in schools

["Irfan Khan" <khania2@super.net.pk>]

[thanks to Digital Opportunity http://www.digitalopportunity.org for 
the lead. ik]

Daily News
13 November 2002

[Sri Lanka] Programme to impart computer literacy in schools

The government has initiated a programme to impart computer literacy 
and technical knowledge to youth in the rural sector. The first stage 
of this programme has been launched from the Kalutara district by 
providing at least one or two computers to each rural school in the 
district," said Employment and Labour Minister and Kalutara District 
Development Committee, Chairman Mahinda Samarasinghe.

Addressing a meeting which followed the distribution of computers to 
several schools in the Matugama, Bulathsinhala and Agalawatte 
electorates, Minister Samarasinghe said it is hoped to open 24 
computer centres equipped with a set of 20 computers and accessories 
each in the district under this programme. The main objective of this 
programme is to enable youth to successfully cater to the future job 
market by gaining computer literacy and a sound technical knowledge.

Among the schools which received computers in this day were Neboda 
Maha Vidyalaya, Sri Piyaratana Maha Vidyalaya, Udawela, Girikola 
Kanishta Vidyalaya, Pimbura Kanista Vidyalaya, Veyangalla Muslim Maha 
Vidyalaya and Kudaligama Maha Vidyalaya.

Mahinda Samarasinghe said nearly 70 percent of the country's 
population lived in the rural sector. This programme which brings new 
technology to the rural sector would enable rural children to fashion 
themselves according to modern world trends and needs.

Minister Samarasinghe said in the past rural youth in particular had 
suffered a serious social setback and mental frustration due to 
unemployment caused by their lack of knowledge in English and 
information technology. The government's objective is to change this 
situation by developing rural schools to compete with urban schools. 
This is in keeping with the Prime Minister's concept of providing 
equal educational opportunities and technical knowledge to all.

Minister Samarasinghe said the country's education system had not 
been properly job-oriented. This shortcoming was identified by his 
ministry in formulating the National Employment Policy.

To remedy this the ministry has introduced a program to donate 
computers to rural schools in order to promote skills development 
among rural children. This programme would be further extended to 
cover all districts next year. 

source: http://origin.dailynews.lk/2002/11/13/new23.html