Grant funded partnerships in Sri Lanka - 2007

(PDF - 11 KB)

Professional development workshops

Students conference

DFID Global School Partnerships

Promoting global dimension in school curriculum

Global school partnerships are a powerful and exciting way of bringing a global dimension into the lives of young people and their teachers. Successful partnerships have a profound and lasting impact on those involved.

DFID Global School Partnerships promote partnerships between schools in the UK and schools in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The DGSP programme is funded by the UK government’s Department for International Development (DFID) and is being delivered by a consortium of four agencies.

The British Council is responsible for the management of the programme and works closely with its partners including the Cambridge Education Foundation (CEF), UK One World Linking Association (UKOWLA) and the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO).

the programme emphasises global dimension and citizenship
it supports a range of schools including pre-schools, primary schools, middle schools, secondary schools, government, private, aided and special schools
the programme has provided 932 Reciprocal Visit grants and 347 Global Curriculum Project grants globally between April 2003 to September 2008
there are two deadlines during the year for the Reciprocal Visit Grants and a single deadline for the Global Curriculum Project grants.

The DGSP programme aims to:

deliver successful, high quality educational, reciprocal, inclusive and sustainable global school partnerships
enhance the global dimension in school curricula by providing an effective programme of advice, support, grants, training and professional development to teachers and schools
provide opportunities to schools to jointly explore issues of international concern, to celebrate diversity, to build new community participation in the day-to-day learning and enhance teaching experiences
to raise awareness of young people on global development issues and equip them with skills and knowledge to become active global citizens

HOW CAN IT BENEFIT YOU?

Schools

enhancement of curriculum
capacity building opportunities
networking with schools in the UK

Teachers

greater opportunities for professional development
sharing & learning from good practices
awareness of global issues
opportunities in developing your open-mindedness

Students

exposure to new cultures, lifestyles and perceptions
opportunities to showcase talent and share achievements
opportunities of developing leadership, communication and team working skills-leading to confidence building
awareness of global issues
skills in learning to appreciate similarities and respect differences

DGSP IN SRI LANKA
There are now a total of 140 school partnerships spread across diverse regions in the country.

Since 2005 June, Sri Lanka-UK partnerships have been awarded 77 DFID Reciprocal Visit grants and 35 Global Curriculum Project Grants.

HOW CAN YOUR SCHOOL GET INVOLVED?
To get involved with our DGSP programme Sri Lankan schools must meet the following criteria:

the programme is open to state, semi-government and private schools that follow Sri Lankan national curriculum from grade 1 to 11
the school principal should appoint 2 teachers who could communicate well in English (speaking/writing) and good ICT skills is an added advantage. These two teachers are responsible in coordinating the partnership (communicating with the partner school, sending details of the project activities, conducting meetings to review projects and make future plans)
two additional teachers with different subject expertise and good English communication skills (at least to be able to speak in English) must be appointed by the principal (to build a team of diverse experiences/expertise in schools)
the school principal should be aware of the DGSP programme and provide the fullest support for the teachers who coordinate it

If you are interested in getting involved please refer to the beginners pack and complete the application form. Please e-mail or mail your application to gspsl@britishcouncil.org.

Deputy Manager
DFID Global School Partnerships
49 Alfred House Gardens
Colombo 3

Sri Lankan Ministry of Education (MoE) is our main partner for this programme. Once we receive your application, we will seek the MoE approval for your school's involvement in our programme and we will invite you for an induction workshop.

SUGGESTED PROJECT EXAMPLES FOR SCHOOLS
When applying for grants for school partnerships, evidence of projects based on the 'global dimension' are required. The following are some suggested examples

Project 1 Human Rights
The basic needs are universal and students have to find information
about the lives of those who have fought for human rights in
Sri Lanka and  the wider world. students would focus on their rights
in the society and also the rights of street children,(this project could
be done collaboratively with the partner school).
Suggested method of recording (PDF - 19KB)
Project 2

The journey tea makes
From the tea estate in Sri Lanka to the supermarket shelf in the UK.
Taking into account the work and expenses involved, considering
the price of 1kg of tea at £8, get the students to guess how much
goes to the tea grower, plucker, tea factory workers, tea company
(estate owner), distributor and retailer.

Discuss how international trade can become fairer for all countries,
share the information with the partner school in the UK
Suggested method of recording (PDF - 27 KB)

PROJECTS COMPLETED BY EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS

Project 3

Regional Identity - Me and My Family
(by Trinity College Junior School, Kandy, Sri Lanka and Old Earth
Primary School, Elland, West Yorkshire)

Students of both schools exchanged booklets about themselves, their
School life and their families. The Projects were displayed in the
respective Partner schools.
Find out more

Project 4

Damn the Dam
(by Richmond College, Galle, Sri Lanka and Easing Old School,
North Yorkshire, England)

Students of both schools actively took part in role plays and debates
about the development of a large dam in the partner’s country. This
is an ideal example for a curriculum related collaborative project
which covers a number of Global Dimension Themes.
Find out more

WHAT WE DO
In Sri Lanka we carry out the following activities to promote the concept of Global Dimension among schools.

ACTIVITY
DESCRIPTION ACTIVITY
School visits School visits promote the concept of 'global dimension' among our schools with the aim of making these schools work on projects that reflect the global dimension. This enables the involved schools to apply for reciprocal visits. This also facilitates the students' innovative thinking in bringing up project ideas which demonstrate the concepts very well.
Introduction to DFID Global School Partnerships
(workshop) This workshop describes the principles, educational benefits and feasibility of global school partnerships. A local school with an established Global School Partnership will also share their experience. This workshop is for teachers who are considering starting a learning partnership or who have just initiated such a partnership with a UK school.
Building Effective Partnerships
(workshop) This workshop examines the quality of the school partnership relationship and considers how this can be consolidated and developed further. The workshop is for teachers who have been actively involved in partnerships – particularly those who have visited their partner school and/or hosted visits.
Global Dimension in Partnerships
(workshop) This workshop explores the meaning of global dimension and considers the opportunities that arise within a school partnership to take this forward. The workshop is for teachers who wish to develop a global dimension through joint curricular work with colleagues in partner schools.
Grant preparation seminars
(Seminar) This is for school partnerships considering applying for a Reciprocal Visit grant or Global Curriculum Project grant. DGSP Grant Preparation Seminars will help you prepare your application.
Utilising eLanguages website
(workshop) This workshop will focus on how the schools that are a part of DFID Global School Partnerships (DGSP) will use the e-languages website to create their own classroom projects, upload text, pictures, videos, podcasts and how to share and swap the classroom work done with a partner school

If you are interested in taking part in any of teh above workshops/seminars please contact Deepthi Wijesinghe or Keith Benjamin at gspsl@britishcouncil.org or 011-4521521/578.

DCSIMG

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