CBB, British Council and HSBC award Cambridge qualifications to 200 English teachers

The annual Council for Business with Britain (CBB) project English awards ceremony was held recently at the Ministry of Education. 

At the event 207 teachers across Sri Lanka were awarded the University of Cambridge Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT) UK qualification, having completed a distance learning teacher training course delivered by mentors in 28 Regional English Support Centres (RESCs) located around the country. 

The event was graced by several dignitaries - Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasm, Deputy British High Commissioner Tom Burn, Country Director British Council Sri Lanka Keith Davies, CEO HSBC Sri Lanka and the Maldives Mark Prothero, CBB ELT-Sub Committee Chairperson Tania Polonnowita and Ministry of Education English and Foreign Language Branch Director Maheshi Weerasuriya. 

A non-profit, non-political organisation focused on expanding bilateral trade links between Sri Lanka and the UK, the CBB pursues mutually beneficial business relationships for Sri Lanka and the UK.  Organising regular events, CBB helps business communities from these two countries come together. The project was designed and is being managed by the British Council with HSBC acting as the Principal Sponsor. HSBC has been working with the British Council on this project for close to 10 years and has partnered on many other different projects in the spheres of English and Higher Education. 

The CBB-British Council Teacher Training program started in 2006. The overall goal of the program is to upgrade the English skills of pupils and this is achieved through improving the quality of the teaching practice in their schools. The project has trained a total of 56 mentors from the Ministry of Education’s RESCs, ensuring the project’s wide geographical coverage across Sri Lanka. The mentors deliver in-service teacher training to teachers in their areas using a distance learning course, which leads to the internationally recognised University of Cambridge Teaching Knowledge Test (TKT). 

Former Country Director for the British Council Keith Davies said: “The British Council strives to reach millions of teachers and learners of English and to provide them with access to the best resources and latest approaches to English language teaching and learning from the UK. This project is one example of our work in English. We have trained over 2,100 English language teachers in Sri Lanka through the CBB Project English program with the support of the Ministry of Education.”

HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives CEO Prothero commented: “Adequate knowledge of English is a compelling necessity to access the many opportunities available in today’s society. The teachers trained under this program use their newly-acquired skills and knowledge to create a positive impact in the classroom by building confidence and a positive attitude in students. The overall impact of the program on these children therefore is more holistic, increasing their chances of educational and employment opportunities.”

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Education Kariyawasam said: “I am pleased that the Ministry of Education has been working with the CBB and the British Council on this project from its inception to the present day. It is an example of a successful partnership collaborating to increase the educational potential of the country’s youth. The Ministry is keen to support such partnerships.”

The TKT examination comprises three modules which focus on the core knowledge and skills needed by teachers of the English language.