ComBank launches science education programme for schools with NSF
A new project to promote science education in fifty schools has been launched by the Commercial Bank of Ceylon in collaboration with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Science Branch of the Ministry of Education.
Facilitated by a partnership agreement announced by the Bank and the NSF earlier this year, the project is one of a series of initiatives supported by the Bankto take science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education to schools across the country.
As a first step, five schools in the Colombo educational zone have been selected to implement the project at pilot level and the inaugural programme was held recently at Dudley Senanayake Vidyalaya, Narahenpita, the Bank said. The other schools selected for the pilot project are Anuruddha Balika Vidyalaya, Dematagoda; Rajasinghe Maha Vidyalaya, Maligawatte; Wijayaba Maha Vidyalaya, Colombo 14; and Ave Maria Vidyalaya, Mattakkuliya.
More than 300 participants comprising of students and teachers from the five schools, officials representing the government, the Ministry of Education and other organisations supporting the project attended the event. A STEM classroom was also opened for students’ use with the support of Commercial Bank’s Narahenpita Branch.
After the inaugural session, technical sessions to provide hands-on experience to students were conducted by the Vocational Training Authority (VTA), the Ceylon-German Technical Training Institute (CGTTI) and the Department of Meteorology. The VTA also conducted a skills test for about 150 students aged 15 and above.
Additionally, training programmes in coding and mobile phone repair were introduced for students at Dudley Senanayake Vidyalaya. To promote urban agriculture, a session on hydroponic cultivation techniques, essential oil extraction and the science behind home gardening was conducted for students.
Commercial Bank’s three-year project with the NSF is focused on science and mathematics education, inculcating an innovation culture at school level, developing science and communication skills, raising awareness on nationally-important issues, providing a platform to showcase talents and skills of students, creating awareness of the evolvingjob market and improving students’ mental health.
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