Given the increasing needs to improve and expand the use of existing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in secondary education in Sri Lanka, the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank) is conducting a comprehensive feasibility study (F/S) to set up an ICT hub for secondary education through KSP-ADB Joint Consulting.
Sri Lanka has identified that the availability of a highly skilled labour force is vital for economic growth as well as for human resource development to meet local and foreign labour market demands. At present, there is an increasing need to expand and improve not only the existing ICT infrastructure but also the software components such as ICT related education contents, education information standards, capacity building programs and methods targeting secondary education from Grade six to Advanced Level (A/L).
The current needs have gained even more attention with the introduction of the A/L technology stream. In this context, the feasibility study to set up an ICT Hub for secondary education has much relevance and significance.
The KSP-ADB Joint Consulting team composed of ICT experts and architects will survey the current ICT hub status, to develop the ICT hub plan and to finalize the architectural plan for the project. This consulting team will assess the financial viability of the project through cost estimation and narrowing down funding sources. In addition to the feasibility study, the consulting team will provide capacity building programs for officials from the Ministry of Education.
Chief Representative of Colombo Office of Korea Eximbank, Sungsoo Jung said that the proposed ICT Hub for secondary education covers an island-wide plan targeting national, provincial and zonal level ICT education.