The Government of Sri Lanka announced the Policy Decision of making the teaching of Mother Tongue, Religion and History compulsory in International and Private schools in the county.  It is a contemporary need for the country.  By the year 2016 the subjects of Science and Technology will be taught in most of the schools.  By that time the students learning these subjects will represent 40 percent.  The percentage of students following Commerce Subjects will be increased to 35 percent and by that time the percentage of students learning Aesthetic subjects will be reduced to 25 percent.  With the establishment of 1000 Mahindodaya Schools throughout the country teaching of Motor Mechanism, Post Harvest and Bio-Technology will be started.  6 billion rupees will be spent for this purpose.  Another 6 billion rupees will be spent for providing equipment required for the schools.  With the start of these schools the rush for obtaining places in the popular schools will come to an end. 

The Grade 5 Scholarship Examination will be held this year in accordance with the system that existed.  These details were given by Minister of Education Bandula Gunawardena participating in the Subharathee Discussion Programme of the SLBC this morning.

The Human Science lecturer Pandula Endagama joining the programme said objective of the Central College concept of the late Mr. C W W Kannangara was to provide all facilities to the Central schools and thereby provide a higher level education to the students in the rural areas.  54 Central Colleges were established throughout the country under this programme.  He said that President Mahinda Rajapakse is carrying forward the Kannangara Chinthana Programme.  He said that the President has pointed out the importance of providing the youth the opportunity of acquiring the knowledge of Heritage, Tank and Reservoir Technology and Ancient Agricultural Research.

PAYPAL in Sri Lanka Soon

This is a very good news for Sri Lankan freelancers and small enterprises who engage in foreign projects & small BPO projects as Sri Lanakan authorities are in discussions over freeing Paypal inward to Sri Lanka.

Last year Central Bank chief Nivard Cabrral mentioned that he is seriously looking to get Paypal fully functioned in Sri Lanka with the development in the ICT industry.

Paypal is well known online payment method specially use by  European and American countries to send and receive money with a small transaction cost .Currently Paypal only allow Sri Lankan to spend money to foreign products and services through a linked credit card. This is a big disappointment for Sri lankan Freelancers as it is really hard for them to get money from the foreign clients at a low cost due to disability of receive and withdrawal functions for Sri Lankan Paypal users.There are some other options like wire transfers. But the cost is high as USD 30 per withdrawal. If Paypal allow receive and withdrawal money option to Sri Lankan people, there will be a very good market for foreign business transactions. 

Let's hope to see fully functioned Paypal in Sri Lanka Soon. 

Information & Communication Technology Branch of the Ministry of Education and University of Vocational & Technology (UNIVOTEC)  has taken action to offer ICT based Degree Programme for the teachers who are teaching ICT in government  schools as follows.

I.   B. Tech in ICT (Software Technology)
II.  B. Tech in ICT (Multimedia & Web Technology)
III. B. Tech in ICT (Network Technology)

The Paper notice prepared on that, published on 2013.12.15.

In order to proceed, it is required to deposit Rs. 500/- to the Acc. No. 0070308457 of the Bank of  Ceylon, Ratmalana Branch and the photocopy of the bank slip must kept to provide when required.. 

Disciplinary actions will be taken if the provided details are false.

You are instructed to use the letter signed by Secretary of Ministry of Education to make aware of the relevant officials when obtaining the recommendation and approval for your application.

The closing date of application is 10th January 2014. The late applications will not be entertained. Closing date of application has extended till 20-01-2014. 

Kindly follow the instructions according to the given sequence to apply the above degree programme.

1. Teachers who obtained the Certificate of National Diploma in teaching and appointed as ICT teachers:

The teachers who have the diploma certificate mentioned above and appointed to teach ICT subject are eligible for applying this programme. However, the teacher should teach the subject at least for five years as at closing date of the application.

Application should be downloaded.

Duly filled application, payment receipt of an application processing fee and certified copies of certificates should forwarded to the address given below through the registered post. Please write “Teachers with National Diploma in Education (ICT)” at the top left hand corner of the envelope.  

The applicants with the basic qualification must attend for an admission test conducted by UNIVOTEC and a second examination will be held for the successful candidates of the admission test. 

The applicants who obtain higher marks from the second examination will be exempted from the 1st year of the degree course. Accordingly, the academic duration is 2 years for them.

NCoE teacher who could not obtain higher marks from the second examination will be qualified to follow 3 year degree program. 

Applications will be rejected when applicant is not qualified from the first admission test.

2. Teachers who teach ICT without having an appointment ICT teaching to teach ICT:

The teachers who teach ICT without ICT teaching appointment are eligible for applying this degree programs. 

However, the teacher should teach the subject at least for five years as at closing date of the application.

Application should be downloaded.

Duly filled application, payment receipt of an application processing fee and certified copies of certificates should forwarded to the address given below in registered post. Please write “Teachers with non-ICT appointment” at the top left hand corner of the envelope.  

The applicants with the basic qualification must attend for an admission test conducted by the UNIVOTEC. Applicants will be selected to follow the 3 year degree programmme, based on the test results.   

Application will be rejected when applicant is not qualified from the admission test.

Please send the applications to the address given below by registered post.

Director of Education
Information & Communication Technology Branch
Ministry of Education
Isurupaya
Pelawatta, Battaramulla

Higher Education Ministry yesterday announced that the date for university registration had been extended for students who are in the third batch of the leadership training programme.

Secretary of the Ministry Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne told The Island that the third batch would complete their leadership training programme on February 02. "With this extension students selected for the third batch could register with their respective universities within one week after ending the leadership training programme," he said.

Some universities had already started to register students, Dr. Navaratne said. "Neither students nor their parents need to panic."

The Secretary said that the Vice Chancellors and Registrars of all universities had already been informed of the extension of registration date for those who are attending the third batch of the training programme.

He said that the leadership training programme for the first batch of 2012 – 13 had been held from November 23 to December 15 and second batch underwent the programme from December 21 to January 10.

Lists of the names of students selected for respective batches of the leadership training programme had been posted on the website www.mohe.gov.lk, Dr. Navaratne said.

You can check the names via this website

http://pop.nodes.lk/mohesys/