12 Feb, 2016
With the intention of providing a foundation in English language training for youngsters, the John Keells Foundation relaunched the ‘English for Teens’ Scholarship Programme for school children within the age limit of 12 to 14 years in 2010. The inauguration of the programme for the first batch of students is now complete, with the programme having been launched at Gateway Language Centres in Colombo, Matara, Chilaw, Ampara, Gampaha, Kurunegala, Batticaloa, Ratnapura and Anuradhapura, with 500 scholarships being awarded for the first batch.
The programme for the second intake is scheduled to be launched in around November this year and will be conducted in Bandarawela, Galle, Kandy, Habarana, Jaffna, Negombo, Panadura, Trincomalee and Vavuniya. The second batch will also consist of 500 scholars.
Conceptualized by the John Keells Foundation, the scholarship programme was launched in 2004 in collaboration with Gateway Language Centre. The course focuses primarily on teaching English for daily use and basic interactions, helping students understand and use familiar everyday expressions aimed at the satisfaction of basic needs, for example introducing one self and others and asking or answering personal questions.
Interestingly, 72 of the total 1000 scholarships being awarded during the programme this year are for children of John Keells non-executive staff. This long-term project, aimed at enhancing English language skills of schoolchildren across the island, will improve these students’ learning and employability, while opening up limitless opportunities in various spheres of their lives.