A meeting on - ‘How to help building a creative and Innovative Nation’

With the new education reforms planned by the government targeting to build up a student centered Education System in place of Examination-centered Education System, Science Popularization Division of the National Science Foundation (NSF), under the guidance  of NSF Working committee on STEM Education  organized a roundtable discussion with the key persons involved in the reforms to  find out changers going to be occurred in science and technology education system in the country. The discussion was held on 2^nd July 2020 at the NSF auditorium with the participation of members of the ‘President Task Force for Education’, institutional heads, and key staff members of the Ministry of Education and  members of NSF Working Committee on STEM education and members of NSF Working Committee on Science Popularization.

Dr P.R.M.P. Dilrukshi, Head, Science Popularization Division of the NSF welcomed all the participants to the NSF for the meeting.  Prof. Ranjith Senaratne Chairman of the NSF opened the discussion by highlighting the importance of revisiting the education system in the country and paying attention to creating conducive environment for students to learn and question. Further he highlighted the importance of identification of individual potential of a students and creating path for the development. Dr Chandra Embuldeniya, Chairman of the NSF Working Committee on STEM Education gave background to the discussion. Dr Upali Sedera National Advisor to the Ministry of Education and main speaker of the discussion made a presentation on proposed activities of the ‘Task force of Education’. In his presentation he provided a comprehensive picture on existing system of education in the country and changes and improvements proposed during reforms. He explained what is meant by ‘thematic education’ in the reforms and also institutional changes proposed in the reforms    Dr Sanath Mahawithanage  of Faculty of Medicine, University of Jayawardenapura has given brief presentation on what is mindfulness and highlighted importance of incorporating mindfulness into Education system in the country. The discussion ended with the concluding remarks and way forward made by Dr Chandra Embuldeniya.