British Council enhances international learning in local school curriculum with support from Ministr

This year, 68 schools from remote and urban areas of Badulla, Bandarawela, Chilaw, Colombo, Gampaha, Gampola, Galle, Jaffna, Kandy, Kalutara, Kurunegala, Matara, and Monaragala received the ‘British Council International School Award’ at the award ceremony held recently at the Eagles’ Lakeside Banquet hall in Attidiya, Dehiwela. 

Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam was Chief Guest. The International School Award ceremony was attended by hundreds of students, parents, teachers, and principals from schools island-wide.

The British Council International School Award (ISA) is an accreditation scheme that recognises and celebrates exemplary practices of internationalism in schools. ISA encourages schools to collaborate and innovate with overseas schools to create an enriching learning experience for students through the use of information technology, creative informative practices and a practical context for learning. 

Schools that participate in ISA begin by drafting an action plan for an academic year with a minimum of seven projects related to international dimensions covering a range of subject areas and age groups. The schools record their work and present a dossier of evidence that is assessed by a panel. Schools that are successful in meeting the assessment criteria are awarded the accreditation for a period of three years.

British Council Sri Lanka Country Director Keith Davies OBE, commented on the ISA scheme: “One of our most important programmes with schools is called ‘Connecting Classrooms’ – a global education programme offered by the British Council and UK Aid which supports teachers and school leaders in over 50 countries. This programme aims to create an enhanced teacher-learning experience while developing young people’s skills required for the global economy.  It provides opportunities for schools, students and teachers in Sri Lanka to digitally engage, connect and interact with their counterparts in the UK and other countries. I am delighted that our work with schools through this programme touches all parts of Sri Lanka including more than 437schools across all nine provinces.”

“The ISA provides an opportunity for the British Council to recognise and celebrate the amazing achievements of schools working to bring an international dimension to education. Every year I am impressed by the passion, commitment and creativity with which the teachers and students carry out their projects with their partner schools, creating an enriched learning experience for everyone involved. Pupils in Sri Lanka collaborate with their peers all over the world, from England to Egypt to Ethiopia and beyond,” commented Rebecca Picton, Regional Schools Programme Manager, South Asia.

The programme reaps many benefits for students and teachers alike. It helps design, develop and implement international activities in schools which develop global awareness in both teachers and students across a range of subjects. It also optimises their opportunities for networking, while the award itself gives a sense of recognition to the schools. One of the main advantages of being a part of British Council’s Schools Offer is the accessibility and connectivity provided by the British Council’s ‘School’s Online’ website (schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org) This portal provides opportunities for teachers in Sri Lanka to collaborate with partner schools of other countries in a direct and engaging manner. “ISA helped me to go beyond the traditional teaching and learning process. It brought about innovation and experimentation in the field of education. It helped me to sharpen and brush up my skills as well.  Academic, non-academic staff and students worked as a team to make the activities a success. Finally it became a project that involved the whole school,” commented Kokila Rajapaksha, ISA Coordinator, Boralanda Dharmapala Vidyalaya. 

The programme combines opportunities for face to face interaction for pupils and teachers around the world and increasingly utilises ICT and digital media to allow schools, students, and teachers in Sri Lanka to engage, connect and interact with their counterparts in UK and other countries.

The British Council in partnership with the Ministry of Education hopes to reach out to 200 schools next year, promoting the integration of an international and global learning to the local curriculum.