I read Prof. R N de Fonseka's letter titled "Too much grammar in teaching of English acts like a poison" in the Island of 20 February. I am also in agreement with the President for declaring 2009 as the year of English and IT. It is a worthwhile initiative.

I am quite concerned that our undergraduates are reluctant to learn English. It is only through English that they can hope to get employed in the private sector or even in the public sector they are going to need a sufficient knowledge of English even to type a letter without making a mistake. I worked in a ministry and found that most newly passed out graduates did not possess a sufficient knowledge of written or spoken English. I hope the present generation of university lecturers will be able to convince the undergraduates that English is essential. In addition a change in attitudes of the undergraduates is required.

The future of this country vis-vis its human resource is at stake if our graduates do not possess a sufficient knowledge of this hugely popular international language. If I was an employer I will seriously think twice about recruiting present day university graduates especially arts graduates because not only do they lack a sufficient knowledge of written and spoken English they also have a very bad attitude towards those who write and speak English fluently. The universities have a major role to play in producing good quality graduates fluent in both written and spoken English.