Door opened for govt. school kids to learn German gratis, courtesy GCI

By Karunaratne Gamage

The German Cultural Institute and the Ministry of Education have come together to facilitate a project to help children in public schools to learn German free of charge.

Regional Programme Coordinator managing the project in the North Central Province Jayara Dampahalage addressing a ceremony held at Polonnaruwa at the launch of the language teaching classes for principals and teachers of 25 selected schools in Polonnaruwa said that learning the new language would be a gateway to a great economic power.

She said that the German Cultural Institute would conduct the programme countrywide. As a pilot project it would first teach 100 teachers selected from 25 schools in the North Central province for the project.

Vice Chancellor of the Rajarata University Prof Sanjeewani Ginigaddara was the chief guest of the ceremony followed by a two-day residential workshop for teachers and principals.

Among those present were head of Language Division, German Cultural Institute Rakhitha Karunaratne, Sri Lankan representative of German Educational Exchange programme Nadeesha Palliyaguruge, Deputy Director of English and foreign language teaching in the Ministry of Education Ananda Arasu, NCP Director of Education (English) K.I. Jayawardena, Additional Director of Education- NCP Prasad Jayawardena, Lecturers Edina Wilgus, psychologist Maya Dissanayanake and other educational ministry officials.