Sri Lanka Project Descriptions

ASAP   Program is designed to reduce pressures for continuing conflict by:

  • 25,000 (approx.) unemployed A-level graduates received employability skills

  • Teachers trained in interactive teaching methods

  • Businesses accessing work ready job applicants

  • Training organizations implementing demand-driven curricula

  • Organizations participating in training-business partnerships

  • Program focused in East coast and North Central region

  • Target beneficiaries are the group that is most vulnerable to becoming involved in the conflict, unemployed, conflict affected, disaffected 15-25 year olds

  • Help youth transition to employment, self-employment, or in some cases further study

  • Classes will have group process activities with messages concerning peace building, mediation, human rights and civic education

  • Student recruitment will emphasize diversity to give youth experiences of envisioning positive personal and community futures alongside friends of diverse ethnicities and religions

  • Catalyze English language gains as “lingua franca” bridge between cultures and groups

  • Guide service learning projects with priority given to projects with a community peace building aspect

  • Expose youth to use of ICT for further employment prep and peace building resources

  • Approximately 450 teachers will learn how to lead interactive group processes that impart lessons concerning peace and inter-group understanding

  • Assistance to businesses in East coast and North Central region in hiring multi-ethnic trainees, especially businesses partnering with agricultural supply chain and businesses for peace network

YESL/JA programs teach students about business and economics to prepare young people for workplace opportunities.  YESL/JA builds partnerships between the business and education communities to provide the curriculum and volunteers who serve as role models to the students.

 YESL/JA provides 22 separate, sequential programs for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade.  In the elementary grades, students learn about needs vs. wants, different types of jobs, and money & banking.  Middle grades students study budgeting, job interviewing, saving & investing.  In high school, students try their hand at entrepreneurship, writing business plans and financial management.

 YESL/JA programs are funded through contributions from businesses, individuals, foundations and special event fund-raisers. 

 

 Benefits:

  • ·         Students gain understanding of the business world and receive exposure to various career opportunities. 

  • ·         Schools have an opportunity to form meaningful partnerships with area businesses.

  • ·         Teachers learn about and gain an increased appreciation of business.

  • ·         Volunteers have an opportunity to “give something back” to the community.

  • ·         Volunteers share personal experiences, success stories and information about their employer.

  • ·         Sponsoring companies and organizations have an opportunity to invest locally in our future workforce.

E-CBL Computer and English Skills Increased, 2006

The English – Computer Based Learning (E-CBL) Project installed English language learning software on 150 computers at eight centers around Sri Lanka. Selected English language teachers, teaching assistants and computer technicians participated in a five day course to learn how to use DynEd International’s (www.dyned.com) software to deliver English language instruction using a blended approach. This blended approach assures that students can take advantage of direct teacher instruction while having sufficient opportunity to practice English skills. These centers are frequented by youth, aged 17-25, who are trying to improve their English skills so they can gain and maintain access to jobs. Two additional modules: Business English and Hospitality English will further enhance their opportunities in the workplace.

USAID’s E-CBL program facilitated the establishment of links between the U.S. commercial software firm, DynEd International, and a Sri Lankan education institution  to support current user sites and further market the multi-media software program in Sri Lanka. Headway College of English’s Director, M. Naaren, based in Batticoloa took on this challenge when an agreement was signed between the two companies in April 2007 and Mr. Naaren traveled to DynEd’s Asia Headquarters in Malaysia for extended training on use and marketing of the software.

E-CBL in Jaffna at the Jaffna Municipal Council Library Computer Center

On May 9, 2007, Assistant Secretary of State Boucher: Greeted the Ministry of Education Official, Mr. K. Selvaratnam, Jaffna Zonal Director of Education; Chief Librarian, Mr. Thanabaalasinham,  and Jaffna District English.

 

The U.S. people through USAID are pleased to collaborate with the Sri Lanka Ministry of Education, the Jaffna Municipal Council Library and DynEd/Sri Lanka to install software on the library’s computer network and provide this training for English teachers so they can blend classroom English language instruction with computer based English language training into the program of studies for their students. By installing this software at the Municipal Council Library youth will have more opportunities to use the program to improve their English and IT skills which will prepare them for the workplace as Jaffna’s economic opportunities improve. USAID is supporting this English teacher training workshop at the Jaffna Municipal Library as the first venture in this new partnership.

Peradeniya Center for Excellence in English Language Teaching (CEELT)

USAID and US embassay staff has served as advisors to the Ministry of Education committee developing plans for start up of the CEELT.  This initiative has been lead by MOE Secretary Hewage personally. USAID's The Competitiveness Project (TCP) business plan guides the Ministry of Education planning.

American Library and USAID staff developed a plan for the library, USAID donating $7,000 of professional English teaching publications in February. E-CBL has installed English language learning software in the computer center and trained English lecturers to use it for instruction.  The teachers in training will use this software and classes may be developed for marketing to the public.