Korea to provide $ 30 m concessional loan to set up National Centre of e-Content Development

Wednesday, 6 November 2019 00:44 -     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

 

 

  • Proposed project aims to improve computer-assisted teaching in Sri Lanka
  • Plans underway to establish National Contents Development Centre in North Western Province, two Provincial ICT Education Centres in Eastern and Southern Provinces

 

The Government of Republic of Korea has agreed to provide a concessional loan of $ 30 million (approximately Rs. 5,460 million) to establish a National Centre of e-Content Development for Computer Assisted Teaching in Sri Lanka. 

The objectives of the proposed project are to improve ICT teaching and learning environment for secondary education in Sri Lanka, enhance teachers’ ICT education capacity, and provide equal opportunity for education for every student including those living in rural areas.

The project will be implemented by the Education Ministry, as it plans to expand ICT training facilities to provide education, using ICT technologies such as e-learning services and ICT training. 

In line with the plan, it is proposed to establish a fully-equipped National Content Development Centre (NCDC) in the North Western Province and two Provincial ICT Education Centres (PICTEC) in the Eastern and Southern Provinces. 

NCDC and each PICTEC will engage in developing e-learning content and the content will be shared among teachers and students through e-Thaksalawa and other trainings programs currently in operation.

In this context the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) of the Export-Import Bank (Exim Bank) of Korea has agreed to provide a loan in Korean Won not exceeding the equivalent of $ 30,099,000 to establish the National Centre of e-Content Development for Computer Assisted Teaching in Sri Lanka. 

The interest rate per annum will be 0.15% with a repayment period of 40 years including a grace period of 10 years. 

The signing of the Loan Agreement pertaining to the above project took place yesterday at the Finance Ministry. The Loan Agreement was signed by Treasury Secretary Dr. R.H.S. Samarathunga.

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