Sussex Colleges Network Celebrates Its 15 Years of Excellence
Sussex Colleges are the largest English medium School Network in Sri Lanka. This was registered as Ceylinco Sussex Educational Services in 2003 and initiated its 1st school in Nugegoda in 2004. This school network follows the Sri Lankan local syllabus in English medium. At present this school network is well known as Sussex College Network and is operating 20 schools in 15 districts.
The founder and the Chairman Mr. K.A.S. Jayatissa of the Sussex Educational Services Ltd opened his heart to Education Times to express all their success after many hardships they came through during their journey.
He recalled his imitation “I was much interested in Education and as a result of my researches in Education laid the foundation for the Sussex College Network.”
He stated further that many parents want their children to be educated in English medium. But most of them believe that the Sri Lankan O/L and A/L are not world recognized. But it isn’t true. The Sri Lankan public examination certificates are well recognized all over the world. That is the reason for him to initiate an English Medium School network for Sri Lankan Education system preserving the Sri Lankan value and culture.
He is indeed very proud of his education methodologies and all the successes brought through these methodologies. He mentioned “I strongly believe that the system we follow and the variety of subject choices we offer for selection is the secret of our success. We have introduced literature from grade 3 onwards to improve their high proficiency in English. We have introduced French as the third language. The Government schools offer English medium from grade 6 onwards but still the students can learn only certain subjects in English. The rest are taught in their mother language. But considering the English speaking children we in Sussex Colleges provide all the Government Syllabus subjects in English medium starting from Grade one onwards including all the basket subjects. That is the major difference between our English medium and Government English medium.”
He is so much satisfied and proud of the way they maintain the quality of education. They have a separate teacher training college and they introduce many new teaching methods and materials in the college. This college is not only for the Sussex teachers but also the outsiders who would like to perceive a career in teaching can join the training college to obtain a Diploma in Teaching.
Not only focusing on education, they also provide a wide range of extracurricular activities such as sports, aesthetic activities, elocution and Cambridge examinations. They organize network level competitions to give opportunities for as many students as possible. In additions to that, they get opportunities to participate in the government national level competitions as well.
He also mentioned that the Sussex College network faced many difficulties and hardships during the crisis in 2009 but they were able to overcome all those with their great determination. The story behind the development from a failed company to a successful company today is admirable.
He finally mentioned that the Minister of Education is planning for a monitoring system for the private schools to regulate the basic facilities and quality of Education. It is good. It will help to have good colleges in the island. He is delighted that he got the opportunity to become one of the members of this committee. He stated that this system is good for the parents to give a high quality education for their children when they decide to admit their children to private schools.
Having a very fruitful conversation with the founder and the chairman of the Sussex College network, it is clear that they are contributing a quality service to our motherland. The success after a huge crisis is admirable. Long way to go!