Korea Eximbank to conduct feasibility study on ITC hub for secondary education

S. S. Hettiarachchi, Secretary to the Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka (Center) with Korea Eximbank officials

 Given the increasing needs to improve and expand the use of existing information and communication technology (ICT) in secondary education in Sri Lanka, the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank) is conducting a comprehensive feasibility study to establish an ICT hub for secondary education through KSP-ADB Joint Consulting. 

Sri Lanka has identified that the availability of highly skilled labour force is vital for economic growth as well as to human resource development to meet the local and foreign labour market demands. 
Hence, at present, there are increasing needs to expand and improve not only the existing ICT infrastructure but also the software components such as ICT related education contents, education information standards, capacity building programs and methods targeting the secondary education from grade 6 to Advanced Level (A/L). 
The current needs have gained even more attention with the introduction of new A/L technology stream. In this context, the feasibility study to establish an ICT Hub for secondary education has much relevance and significance. 

The KSP-ADB joint consulting team composed of ICT experts and architects is going to survey the current ICT hub status, to develop ICT hub establishment plan and to finalize the architectural plan for the project. Importantly, this consulting team will assess the financial viability of the project through cost estimation and narrowing down funding sources. In addition to the feasibility study, the consulting team will provide capacity building programmes for officials from the Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka and consultation on e-Library and e-Learning. 

Participating at the kick-off meeting with the Ministry of Education, the Chief Representative of Colombo Office of Korea Eximbank Sungsoo Jung stated that the proposed ICT hub for secondary education covers an islandwide plan targeting national, provincial and zonal level ICT education. 

If constructed, this ICT hub will have a newly built national content development center, 2 PICTECs (Provincial ICT Education Centers) and 68 ZICTECs (Zonal ICT Education Centers) which will be fully-equipped with education materials, network system, office equipment, and etc.