Microsoft-DP Education empower youth with future-ready tech skills

Microsoft Sri Lanka and the Maldives Country Manager Harsha Randeny and DP Education Chairman and Founder Dhammika Perera exchange MoU

Microsoft Sri Lanka and DP Education, the education arm of the Dhammika and Priscilla Perera Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) recently to empower the nation’s youth in digital literacy, knowledge to harness the power of technology, especially 21st century tech skills and secure pathways to a brighter future. 

With Sri Lanka increasingly advancing towards a digital economy, where comprehension of STREAM, coding and digital skills would be imperative, there is a critical window of opportunity for Sri Lankan youth entering the workforce over the next decade. 
The MoU was signed by DP Education Chairman and Founder Dhammika Perera and Microsoft Sri Lanka and the Maldives Country Manager Harsha Randeny, in the presence of representatives from Microsoft and DP Education.

Driven by a mission to ensure students islandwide receive an opportunity to learn AI, coding, robotics and computer programming free of charge, DP Education commissioned its project to the DP Education AI, Coding and Robotics Campus recently. 
“Coding is the new language of the world, all including girls, should learn how to code and be part of the digital world. DP Education Coding School will produce one million Sri Lankan coders to build and drive the digital economy of Sri Lanka,” said Perera.

Within the next three years, DP Education aims to establish 331 coding schools and robotics campuses in all Divisional Secretariats across the country, enabling over 165,000 students the opportunity to learn AI, coding, robotics and computer programming free of charge. Centres will be equipped with over seven thousand computers and in addition, every location will be equipped with educational robots to enhance STREAM learning.

Randeny said, “We are delighted to collaborate with DP Education on upskilling the youth of our country. The recently launched Microsoft Work Trend Index Annual Report for 2023 shows employers will be prioritising a workforce with an aptitude for AI. It is imperative that we prepare our youth for the future of work by equipping them with the right skills the future workforce would expect. With our technology, we humbly aim to empower DP Education in fulfilling its ambition to produce one million young coders by democratising digital education for all children of this country.”