Oral test for O/L English examination

The Education Ministry has decided to introduce an oral test segment for the English language at the G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination from next year, Minister Bandula Gunawardane said yesterday. Minister Gunawardane told a news conference that ten marks would be given to students at this test to be introduced following a pilot proj

ect.

"We will star t a pilot project next year. Depending on the success of the project, we will make it compulsory for all students sitting the exam,” he said.

Emphasizing the impor tance of learning other foreign languages such as Korean and French, he said the education policy had been redesigned to mould people with the capacity to face challenges posed by globalization. "Today, we see a tough competition among the youth to sit the Korean language examination. They had to sit the exam amid police protection. Past pupils of Maliyadeva Vidyalaya, Kurunagala have arranged facilities to teach French to students in their school. They have found teachers for the task. As a result, students

from Maliyadewa Vidyalaya account for the highest intake for language studies at the Kelaniya University," he said.

The Minister said the government would star t the modernization of 1000 secondary schools on February 4, to coincide with the Independence Day and Deyata Kirula event.

"This year, we have not admitted children to Grade I classes at 333 schools selected to be modernized as secondary schools. Initially, these schools will be developed. Each selected school will be provided with material and human resources to teach English Language, Information Technology, Science, Mathematics and Aesthetic Subjects," he said adding that facilities for spor ts activities would be also be improved.

Depending on the success of the project, we will make it compulsory for all students sitting the exam

BANDULA GUNAWARDANE