COLOMBO : The National Institute of Education and the Korean Embassy hosted the completion ceremony of the online capacity building programme of Korean language (Hangul) at Shangri- La Hotel, Colombo, Friday July 30.
This ceremony demonstrated a milestone achievement of Korean language education in Sri Lanka as the online capacity building programme equipped 58 teachers who are well prepared to teach the Korean language for advanced level students. This occasion was graced by high level dignitaries such as G.L. Peiris, Minister of Education, Hon. Susil Premajayantha, State Minister of Education Reforms, Open Universities and Distance Learning Promotion, Santhush Woonjin JEONG, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Sri Lanka and Dr. Sunil Nawarathna, Director General of the National Institute of Education. Dr. Sunil Nawarathna expressed his deep appreciation to the Korean Embassy for endorsing such a timely initiative for the expansion of Korean language education. He said “this programme will be very fruitful as it aligns with the priorities of the national education policies of Sri Lanka. The demand to learn Korean has amplified in recent years due to many Sri Lankans who seek job opportunities in Korea. Under this programme, 58 teachers have successfully completed this online programme. NIE is looking forward to continuing this programme with the assistance of the Korean Embassy.” He elaborated that this programme would be helpful in facilitating the decision to incorporate the Korean language as a foreign language in advanced level classes as well. Hon. Susil Premajayantha, State Minister of Education Reforms, Open Universities and Distance Learning Promotion also extended his gratitude to the Korean Embassy for introducing a capacity building programme to enhance the skills of Korean language teachers. He expressed his pleasure that around 58 teachers have reaped the benefits of this programme and they can now share their advanced knowledge with students facing the university entrance examination. He further stated, “As a developed country, Korea has improved a lot especially in terms of technology advancement. It would be beneficial to learn from Korea and improve the technology sector in Sri Lanka as well. Knowledge sharing is very important for Sri Lanka to enhance technology especially in the field of education.” “Korean Language has become a passport to Employment in Korea” says the Education Minister at the Completion Ceremony of the Online Capacity building programme of Korean Language Ambassador Santhush congratulated all the teachers who successfully completed this programme and stated in his comments, “Your commitment to enhance the Korean language development in Sri Lanka is highly appreciated. I am confident that this programme was helpful in developing your Korean language skills. Your work is very important as the demand for Korean language is rapidly rising. I hope you contribute to a better world and a brighter future for the youth in Sri Lanka. I also take this opportunity to extend my heartiest congratulations to the National Institute of Education for the completion of this programme in Korean language capacity development. I commend your tireless efforts to strengthen and improve the educational facilities in Sri Lanka surpassing the challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. I assure you the continuous support and encouragement of the Korean Embassy in the advancement of Korean language education.” The Education Minister Professor G.L. Peiris commended this programme as a successful initiative by the Korean Embassy in collaboration with the National Institute of Education. “The dimension of people to people contact is of the greatest importance for bilateral relations between two countries. One of the striking features of the multifaceted relationship between Korea and Sri Lanka is that this dimension has been rewarding and relevant to all the people in our country. It is a relationship that has yielded various substantial benefits to the entirety of the population, most evidently in the sectors of education, vocational training and human resource development. A course such as this is immediately relevant and beneficial as it enhances employability of the youth and bridges that gap between education and employability prevalent in Sri Lanka. The Government has identified that enhancing language proficiency is a requirement to modernise the education system of Sri Lanka and Korean is undoubtedly one of the most important languages today. Korean language has become the passport to employment in Korea.” The Education Minister sincerely thanked Ambassador Santhush for going beyond the call of duty to display his spontaneous affection to Sri Lanka and its people by adopting a Sri Lankan name Santhush, and his abiding commitment to this land. 58 teachers were conferred certificates of successfully completing the Online Capacity building programme of Korean Language and the ceremony was concluded with a luncheon for the teachers and dignitaries organised by the Korean Embassy and the National Institute of Education
