• Preparing the workbook has already commenced
• 13,000 teachers who were teaching grade one students would be trained within the next three months

 By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera

Claiming that activity-based oral English for grade one students would begin from the first term starting from March next year, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said yesterday that discussions were in progress with British Council and other international institutions to get the assistance of training the teachers.

He told Parliament that 13,000 teachers who were teaching grade one students would be trained within the next three months.

The Minister said preparing the workbook has already commenced.

He said focus has been drawn to extend this programme to pre-schools as well and added that the task was handed over to the Child and Women Affairs Ministry. The Minister said the Education Ministry would provide the required assistance to implement that programme in pre-schools.