In a move to help future generations of Sri Lanka attain a higher level of proficiency in English, the Special Presidential Task Force on English and Information Technology has drawn up a programme titled "18 Month Road Map to Promote Spoken/Communicative English in Sri Lanka", President’s Office said yesterday

This programme is scheduled to be launched today by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at 10.00 a.m. today (22) at Temple Trees.

A media release from the Presidential Task Force said that this programme would be implemented by the Government and the Provincial Ministries of Education, monitored, coordinated and supported by the Special Initiatives Unit (SIU) of the Presidential Secretariat.

Over 1000 officials from the Central and Provincial Ministries involved in English teaching, Chief Ministers, Governors, Chief Secretaries, Ministers, School Heads, academics and other distinguished personnel will be present at the launch.

An Accelerated Teacher Training Programme designed to take Spoken English skills to all schools in the country within 18 months, a radical change in the school syllabus and examination system to give emphasis to Spoken English and a scheme for distance teaching of English through TV will figure among the 17 activities which the President will unveil at the launch.

A new Teacher Guide and Manual for Spoken English will also be launched on this occasion. This was produced by teachers trained at the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad, on scholarships granted by the Indian Government.

It has been the vision of the President to mark his stewardship by the transformation of English into a subject of paramount importance in terms of usage. Acknowledging the reality that English is a status symbol, the President also recognises the utility value of the language in that it creates an incentive for employment as well as a communication tool that is useful in the execution of life skills, it also said.