The Government has arranged platforms for distant learning programmes for school and university students as well as students in other higher educational institutions to continue their education uninterruptedly in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak.
The Cabinet yesterday approved to dedicate ‘Channel Eye’ and ‘Nethra’ television channels owned by Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation for distant learning programmes in Sinhala and Tamil, Cabinet Spokesman and Higher Education, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena said.
A Presidential Task Force consisting of 26 officials and intellectuals to cover all relevant educational spheres including government and international schools, state and private universities and higher educational, vocational and tertiary educational institutions has been appointed on Tuesday to implement a comprehensive distant learning mechanism. Higher Education Ministry Secretary Anura Dissanayake and Education Ministry Secretary N.H.M. Chitrananda are co-Chairmen of the Task Force.
Addressing a press conference together with Dr. Gunawardena at the Government Information Department yesterday, Education, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said the distant learning programmes for school children would start from April 20.
“The next school term has been scheduled to start on April 20, but we cannot predict whether it would be possible given the current situation in the country. However, the e-learning initiative will be ready by then,” he said.
“Even though student population may not have equal access to laptops and smart phones, television is available in almost every household. The Task Force will take special care to assure equal educational opportunities for all irrespective of technological or financial restraints,” Higher Education Ministry Secretary Anura Dissanayake said.
For undergraduate in State universities, a new locally developed web server has been made available for e-learning. “The students can use this interconnected network free of charge. No internet charges apply for using it. It has been developed by the computer engineers in Colombo, Sri Jayewardenepura, Moratuwa and Peradeniya Universities and it contains similar features of ‘Zoom technologies’ to conduct lectures and meetings online. This is a significant achievement. When we were using Zoom technologies we had to pay to the US, but now we do not have to do so,” said University Grant Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof Sampath Amaratunga.
He said many universities have been conducting online lessons over the past few weeks, and the system would be fully operational by April 20. He said special attention would be given to the students who find it difficult to catch up with the new technology to make sure that those students do not fall behind in studies.
Minister Allahapperuma said there has been no decision yet on postponing the GCE Advanced Level or Grade five scholarship examinations scheduled for August. He however said a decision on the A-L exam would be taken by the relevant authorities in the next two-three weeks to avoid any inconvenience or stress to the students.
He added that the GCE Ordinary Level examination results would be issued before April 30, adding that the data entry work of the results would be completed amidst the curfew.
Dr Gunawardena pointed out that the deadline to accept applications for university entrance has been extended, and that the final date would be after two weeks of schools’ re-opening following the end of curfew.
Speaking at the same press conference Sri Jayewardenepura University acting Vice Chancellor Senior Prof Sudantha Liyanage said Ashan Kumara, a university student, has come up with an innovation of a low cost ventilator. He said its commercial production would be started as soon as possible.
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