Singer Sri Lanka PLC successfully completed the 3rd Phase of the “Singer Soopa Shasthra” program jointly with the Ministry of Education to boost the standard of Home Science education in schools across the country while paving the way for school leavers to step into a career in the fast-growing hospitality industry.
Partnering with the Ministry of Education, Singer Sri Lanka initiated the Singer Soopa Shasthra program in 2015, with a focus on supporting the Home Science subject in schools, by emphasizing the importance of nutritious home cooking as a vital part of a healthy lifestyle and a happy family in today’s busy world. It provides guidance on how to use modern kitchen appliances to create healthy, tasty meals in less time, thereby empowering the Sri Lankan families to cook right and eat right without losing traditional values and taste. Under the 3rd Phase of this unique initiative, 150 underprivileged schools representing all provinces were handpicked to receive Singer appliances to boost their Home Science classes, bringing the total number of schools equipped so far to 450 over the course of the 3-year period. The equipment handed over is worth approximately Rs. 35,000/= per school and includes all appliances required for a complete Home Science Class - Rice Cooker, Tabletop Gas Cooker, Pressure Cooker, Blender and Electric Oven.
The 3rd Phase of the Singer Soopa Shasthra program also included the renovation and re-equipment of the Home Science Unit of the National Institute of Education in Maharagama at a cost of approximately Rs. 2.5 million. This unit, which was launched in the early 90s and was in need of upgrading, plays a crucial role in the training of Home Science teachers from around the country. A selection of modern kitchen equipment was handed over, thereby making the unit fully-equipped for Home Science teachers to undergo their training efficiently.
In addition, Home Science Teacher Training Workshops were organized across the island for over 2,000 teachers, where they were trained on how to use the latest Singer kitchen appliances to prepare meals that are nutritious, time-saving and in line with the national curriculum. Students also received hands-on training on modern kitchen appliances at Singer showrooms island-wide.
Expressing the significance of this year’s program, Mahesh Wijewardene – Director Sales and Commercial of Singer Sri Lanka said, “Today is a significant day for Singer Sri Lanka as we have completed the next phase of this long-term project focused on uplifting the educational standards of the country, while enriching the lives of children. Having commenced in 2015, we are excited to continue the Soopa Shastra program for 3 consecutive years and complete the expanded 3rd Phase this year which includes the much-needed refurbishing and re-equipment of the Home Science Unit at the National Institute of Education, in addition to the distribution of kitchen appliances to 150 schools across the island.”
