Sri Lanka will be taking every effort to mitigate the impact of the school closure countrywide as COVID-19 prevention action and to facilitate the continuity of students’ education through remote learning.
These activities range from hi-tech solutions like real-time video classes conducted remotely to lower-tech options such as educational programming on radio and television.
However there was a need of passing these benefits to children of more vulnerable and disadvantaged communities in rural areas.
The slow pace of change in academic institutions with centuries-old, lecture-based approaches to teaching, and outmoded classrooms took pride of place in the country before the COVID-19 outbreak.
However, the crisis has become a catalyst for educational institutions worldwide to search for innovative solutions in a relatively short period of time.
Under these circumstances a 26-member Presidential Task Force on Sri Lanka’s Education Affairs headed by Higher Education Ministry Secretary D. M. A. R. B. Dissanayake has been appointed. The members include vice chancellors of all the universities, principals of some state and private schools and the head of an international school.
The scope of this committee is to recommend mechanisms to ensure continuity in the education sector without any setbacks whatsoever in the context of the coronavirus epidemic situation.
It will also be recommending methods to modernise primary, secondary and tertiary education sectors in Sri Lanka in keeping with contemporary needs.
The committee will introduce and implement mechanisms necessary for the proper operation of examination activities and curriculum of students after clearing the backlog of work that has occurred due to recent interruptions to primary, secondary and tertiary education activities.
Strategies will be formulated and implemented to conduct student education activities without interruption under the distance education concept during this time period.
It will identify activities to broaden vocational and skills education opportunities and introduce and implement innovative solutions to improve skills and competencies compatible with the job market.
(LI)