This year, 144 schools from remote and urban areas of Anuradhapura,Polonnaruwa,Batticaloa, Badulla, Bandarawela, Colombo, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Jaffna, Kandy,Ratnapura,Kegalle and Kurunegala received the ‘British Council International School Award’ at the award ceremony held recently at the Eagles Lakeside banquet hall in Attidiya, Dehiwela.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Upali Marasinghe graced the occasion as Chief Guest. The International School Award ceremony was attended by hundreds of students, parents, teachers, and principals from schools island-wide.

The British Council International School Award (ISA) is an accreditation scheme that recognises and celebrates exemplary practices of internationalism in schools. ISA encourages schools to collaborate and innovate with overseas schools to create an enriching learning experience for students through the use of information technology, creative informative practices and a practical context for learning. 

Schools that participate in ISA begin by drafting an action plan for an academic year with a minimum of seven projects related tointernational dimensions covering a range of subject areas and age groups. The schools record their work and present a dossier of evidence that is assessed by a panel. Schools that are successful in meeting the assessment criteria are awarded the accreditation for a period of three years.

The Country Director of British Council Sri Lanka, Keith Davies OBE, commented on the ISA scheme. He said, “One of our most important programmes with schools is called ‘Connecting Classrooms’ -  a global education programme offered by the British Council and UK Aid which supports teachers and school leaders in over 50 countries. This programme aims to create an enhanced teacher-learning experience while developing young people’s skills required for the global economy.  It provides opportunities for schools, students and teachers in Sri Lanka to digitally engage, connect and interact with their counterparts in the UK and other countries. I am delighted that our work with schools through this programme touches all parts of Sri Lanka including more than 500 schools across all nine provinces.”

The programme reaps many benefits for students and teachers alike. It helps design, develop and implement international activities in schools which develop global awareness in both teachers and students across a range of subjects. 

The programme combines opportunities for face-to-face  interaction for pupils and teachers around the world and increasingly utilises ICT and digital media to allow schools, students, and teachers in Sri Lanka to engage, connect and interact with their counterparts in UK and other countries.

The British Council in partnership with the Ministry of Education hopes to reach out to 200 schools next year, promoting the integration of an international and global learning to the local curriculum.