Making 25,000 secondary school students IT savvy

Thursday, 22 November 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Ministry of Education (MoE), Sri Lanka, and Oracle Corporation Singapore Pte Ltd. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement the Oracle Academy’s Introduction to the Computer Science curriculum, including the Oracle Academy’s Java Fundamentals curriculum and “Getting Started with Java Using Alice” workshops, into the MoE’s 1000 Secondary Schools Development Program.

This effort will allow MoE to build a strong foundation of technology programs, help foster student knowledge and interest in computer science, engineering and technology, help prepare 25,000 students and 1,000 teachers in secondary schools across Sri Lanka for successful IT careers, and help meet growing local demand for a highly-skilled technology workforce.

The Oracle Academy announced their new Java curriculum earlier this year as part of Oracle’s longstanding commitment to supporting education that helps students graduate with industry-relevant skills that prepare them for 21st century careers.

Java is the one of the world’s most popular computing platforms; it is used by more than nine million developers and powers more than three billion devices. As the steward of Java, Oracle is committed both to the investment in Java technology and educate new generation about Java and the opportunities it brings in a creative way. The Oracle Academy helps 1.9 million students in 97 countries gain industry-relevant skills prior to entering the workforce.

“Under the direct guidance of the Minister of Education Bandula Gunawardhana and under the purview of S.M. Gotabhaya Jayaratne, Secretary, Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka is dedicated to developing technology education programs that foster a highly-trained and entrepreneurial workforce to drive innovation,” said Anura Dissanayake, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Education/Project Director, Education for Knowledge Society Project.

“A shortage of skilled IT staff can limit productivity and growth. By working with the Oracle Academy, we can help strengthen our technology education programs in Sri Lanka and help our students develop industry-relevant that provide a competitive edge as they prepare to enter the workplace.”

“The Oracle Academy provides educational institutions with access to curriculum and leading technology that enables students to gain 21st century skills for successful IT careers,” said Krishna Sistla, Senior Director, Oracle Education Initiatives, Oracle Asia Pacific. “Our aim is to support the development of students with the computer science and technology skills needed in the marketplace today and into the future.”

“Oracle has been committed to advancing education with innovative technology programs for nearly two decades and our programs now support more than five thousands students in South Asia Growing Economies-West,” said Ahsen Javed, Senior Managing Director, Oracle SAGE-West. “By working together, the Oracle Academy and Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka, will provide advanced technical learning opportunities for students develop the skills needed for careers in the IT industry.”