Digitalisation is not just replacing blackboards with smart boards: Minister

Colombo, August 11 (Daily Mirror) - Digitalisation in education is not just about replacing blackboards with smart boards; it has a much broader purpose and vision, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said at a recent Ministry event.

An awareness programme on digitalising education was recently held for Ministry officials.

During the event, the Minister said that Sri Lanka has received a USD 20 million grant from China to digitalise the general education system.

As part of the new education transformation, starting in January 2025, the Chinese government will provide 1,000 smart boards, benefiting 500 schools across Sri Lanka.

Moreover, the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) will fund the purchase of another 1,000 smart boards. The required infrastructure is being developed, and the Minister emphasized that foreign grants should be utilised step by step, without delay.

He also pointed out that even a highly populated country like China has already digitised 95% of its education sector. Sri Lanka must speed up its efforts to reach international education standards.

The Minister added that despite the economic challenges since 2022, these educational development efforts have continued. Teacher training and human resource development are also being carried out to ensure a high quality of education, he said.