A knowledge based education system should be developed in the country with more emphasis on English education, stated Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena at the launch of the second phase of the Presidential initiative on ‘English as a Life Skill’ at Temple Trees yesterday (July 19).

Even during the war against terrorism financial allocations for Education and Health were not cut down. Therefore the government has been able to develop the education system to this level, he further said.

The Government’s objective is to create a younger generation which can face international challenges by promoting their English communication ability, he said.

He added that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has laid special emphasis on educating children from rural areas of the country.

The Government will introduce English listening and speaking skills for Ordinary Level students from 2012 to evaluate the students’ competency in these two areas, the Education Minister said. The National Evaluation and Testing Service of the Department of Exams has planned the evaluation of these skills through the School Based Assessment system.

Listening and speaking skills will receive maximum 30 marks out of 100 in the G.C.E. (O/L) English paper from 2012, the Minister said.

Minister Gunawardena also stated that the country has made vast strides towards development. “We have arrived at a crucial juncture of the country’s history after the end of a 30-year protracted conflict,” he added.

He stressed that the shortage of English medium teachers for A/L classes would be filled soon. The competitive examination to recruit 554 graduate teachers for GCE (A/L) classes was held last week and more than 7,000 candidates have applied for the examination, he added. A teacher of the Parakramabahu National College, Polgahawela presented the revised teacher guide to the Minister on this occasion.

The first phase of the ‘English as a Life Skill’ project was completed with the assistance of the Education Ministry, Asian Development Bank and the Indian Government.

The Department of Examinations yesterday launched a Certificate Course in basic English for the public produced by a team of Sri Lanka English Language Trainers (ELTs) to promote English language among the public.

The ELTs are expected to introduce the modalities for a Certificate Course in Advanced English for the public depending on the public response for the Certificate Course with the co-ordination of the Examinations Department.