Microsoft partners Ministry of Telecom and IT to train teachers in Kegalle

Tuesday, 19 November 2013 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Microsoft Sri Lanka recently conducted a three-day teacher training program at the Sanasa Campus in Kegalle. The program was conducted under the patronage of the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology. Participated by 30 educators in the area, the training covered computer fundamentals, Microsoft Windows operating system as well as basic operating skills on software such as Microsoft Windows, Excel and PowerPoint with a view to how these programs could be used in the classroom.

The teachers were also given training on networking fundamentals and how to use the Internet as an effective tool to teach through easy access of information from the web. Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology Ranjith Siyambalapitiya who inaugurated the training session speaking on the contribution Microsoft Sri Lanka has made in providing 21st century skills to local educators and students said that the company’s efforts are in line with the Mahinda Chintanaya which seeks to build a knowledge-based economy by creating a highly skilled future generation. The Minister said: “Educating the educators is an important aspect of education and that is one of the key parts of the knowledge-chain. This training will aid teachers to utilise modern technology in their day-to-day teaching process, which in turn will empower our children, enabling them to conquer a technology-driven world. This will also bring us a step closer to achieving our objective of making the island an IT hub and also building a more employable future generation,” the Minister said. The inauguration ceremony was also attended by Additional Secretary of the Ministry Sumithra Kannangara, Assistant Director of the Ministry BDS Siripathi, Microsoft Country Manager Sri Lanka and Maldives Imran Vicassim, Microsoft’s Director Public Sector Sharada Kirinde and other dignitaries. Vilcassim, addressing the gathering said: “Microsoft is a company that has immensely helped the local education sphere over the past nine years. We have conducted various programs for students and teachers aiming to broaden the horizons of their knowledge as far as IT is concerned, and provided local schools with software, enabling teachers and students to familiarise themselves with our latest products. Although Microsoft is the largest software company in the world, we, at our core, are truly Sri Lankan, strongly rooted in our national responsibilities,” he said adding that Microsoft Sri Lanka will continue to support the government and the education sector of the country in the coming years.