Thursday Nov 28, 2024
Thursday Nov 28, 2024
Friday, 30 October 2015 00:19 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Seated 3rd from left: Kumanjali Perera – Confidential Secretary, Prof Sunethra Karunaratne – Consultant Arpico Educational Institute, Prof Lakshman Watawala – Director RPC, Mark Windale, Viville Perera – Director RPC, Minodh de Sylva – Head of Marketing, Shantha Kalugala – GM RP Construction, along with the attending teachers
The Arpico Educational Institute which is part of Richard Pieris & Company PLC is the Group’s learning and development division committed to uplifting the standards of education in Sri Lanka.
As part of their outlook on taking steps to achieve this ideal, the institute, in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University of the United Kingdom organised a Teacher Training Program themed ‘Thinking through Science,’ focused primarily on enhancing the skill sets of school teachers.
The program was held from 2-4 August at the Richard Pieris & Company PLC Auditorium, in Maharagama.
It was conducted by Mark Windale who is a principal lecturer in science education and International Lead at the Centre for Science Education, Sheffield Hallam University. Mark himself was a secondary school biology teacher before taking up his post at the university. He is an expert in Active Teaching and Learning, and has been responsible for running national continuing professional development (CPD) and curriculum development projects globally.
He has been involved in more than 30 national and international CPD, curriculum development and research projects as a project director, writer, CPD provider and researcher and has been involved in projects which focused on the development of active teaching and learning, inquiry-based teaching and learning, context-based teaching and learning, problem solving and thinking skills, scientific investigation, the use of ICT in teaching and learning and scientific inquiry.
It was this level of experience and exposure that was imparted on the 40 attendees over the three day program held by the Arpico Educational Institute in order to directly enhance the teaching methodology of Sri Lankan schoolteachers. The workshop was conducted as an activity based operation so as to directly engage participants and develop their thinking skills. The response at the conclusion was overwhelmingly positive where everyone involved had an enjoyable learning experience and hoped to participate in future training programmes of similar nature.
Richard Pieris & Co. PLC is a diversified business conglomerate with a rich history of 83 years. Its flagship brand “Arpico” is one of the most powerful local household brands in Sri Lanka for over 50 years, serving the community with a diverse range of products across many sectors such as manufacturing, plantations, financial services, exports, FMCG, construction, logistics, educational services and retail.
The retail sector led by its flagship brand “Arpico Supercenters” operates one of the largest modern trade chains in the country. A diverse melting pot of talent, comprising a workforce of over 35,000, Richard Pieris & Company PLC is one of the largest employment providers in the private sector in Sri Lanka.
