(LCDVS): Well recognized for Teacher Training, Secretarial & English Courses

Ladies’ College Department of Vocational Studies (LCDVS) has developed a renowned reputation for vocational training since its inception in the 1980s, and so has several years of experience in delivering purpose driven courses and preparing young people for the workplace. A leader in the arena of vocational training and one of the first such Institutes, the unit has grown to exemplify the highest standards of excellence.

Initially courses catered to teacher development and commenced with the Diploma for Pre School Teachers. This course has been conducted for over 30 years and is well recognized in Sri Lanka. It is now known as the Diploma in Pre School and Sub Primary Education. Students are sent for practice teaching to leading National and International Schools. This is the ideal course for school leavers who are considering a teaching career. A shorter Certificate in Early Childhood Education was developed to cater to mature students interested in changing their careers or starting a teaching career. This is an intensive four month course.

Within the last ten years, LCDVS has increasingly focused on Teacher Training. Recognizing today’s global movement towards including every student in the educational process, LCDVS offers professional training opportunities for any person; medical personnel, teachers, parents and school administrators, interested in supporting children with diverse educational needs.

The Diploma in Special Needs Education and Diploma in Specific Learning Disabilities online and classroom based were developed by Dr ( Mrs.) Shalini F. Wickremesooriya and is conducted together with a team of well qualified professionals. The Diploma Programmes aim at changing society’s attitudes towards “disability”.

Hence, the Programmes offer the opportunity to acquire practical skills and theoretical knowledge to develop systematic approaches toward planning and implementing effective strategies to enhance learning outcomes for ALL students.

The need for continuous education was also recognized by LCDVS and a range of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) courses were added to the range of courses on offer. These courses are conducted in collaboration with other Institutes and are the Cambridge International Diploma for Teachers & Trainers, Teaching Knowledge Test ( TKT) and Diploma in Child & Adolescent Psychology.

Cambridge International Diploma for Teachers & Trainers is a vehicle for continued professional development and is relevant for teaching and training in a variety of contexts. This course helps teachers to understand their students, to design lessons to cater to different types of learners, to assess their students’ progress as well as reflect on their own teaching styles. This is an internationally recognized course developed by Cambridge International Examinations (CIE).

Another course which is Internationally recognized is the Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT) which is a Cambridge English for Speakers of Other Languages ( ESOL) Qualification. This course gives teachers a strong foundation in the core areas of teaching knowledge needed in the English Language class room. It is ideal for all teachers and is also suitable for people who would like to teach English but do not yet have a teaching position.

The Diploma in Child and Adolescent Psychology is conducted in collaboration with the Colombo Institute of Research and Psychology. This Diploma aims at providing the essential knowledge & skills required to understand normal behaviors and development processes of children, ways and means of improving cognitive, physical & social skills of children and to identify abnormal behaviors or delayed development. This programme also provides an opportunity for further academic progression, as students who complete the diploma are able to transfer their credits to a UK university to follow a degree program.

All these courses complement the growing demand for teacher education and CPD programmes.

LCDVS has launched a series of workshops on teacher training and CPD in view of supporting teachers and skills development. Teachers are increasingly under pressure to complete the relevant curriculum, to ensure that the young people in their care fulfill their potential and are prepared for access to higher education, where competition is ever challenging.

A series of workshops in the field of PreSchool and Special Needs Education was also launched.

The next workshop in how to include all students by engaging in “Response-able” classroom talk will be held on the 25th of January 2014.

LCDVS continues to be the fore runner in CPD for teachers and in view of the quality professional courses on offer, which complement the initiative of vocational training in a variety of other sectors.

In line with the demands of industry, LCDVS also features a range of courses such as the Chartered Corporate Secretaries Local Examinations, Diploma for Professional Secretaries and a Certificate in Secretarial Studies, complemented by computer courses and courses for those within industry.

LCDVS also conducts workshops and seminars for Companies and Institutes and some of these workshops are tailor made according to the requirement.

To complement the courses on offer and to enhance skills development, LCDVS provides courses on practical English for the workplace through a Certificate Course in Practical English. The courses on offer are at three levels to cater to different ability groups.

The courses on offer are well supported by professional staff, who have several years of experience both as trainers and mentors. The facilities for teaching and facilitation are state of the art, within a purpose driven and designated facility. www.dvs.edu.lk