News and Opportunities
Sri Lankan schools sector growing in importance
14 Oct 2013
A school visit program organised by Austrade in conjunction with the Colombo International School (CIS) on 6 September was attended by 16 Australian institutions, local students, parents and teachers. The visit emphasised the growing importance of the schools sector in Sri Lanka.
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) presented on Australian student visas and Austrade profiled Australia as a destination for internationally-recognised education and graduate employment opportunities. All institutions participating in the event held one-on-one counselling information sessions with students and their parents after the briefings.
CIS was founded in 1982 with a curriculum based on the British General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), AS- and A2-level qualifications and offering a full range of extracurricular activities. The school is staffed by over 200 experienced academics comprising both Sri Lankan and expatriate teachers. A full range of subjects are offered to enable students to excel in their studies and pursue tertiary education in major universities globally in Australia, UK, USA, and Singapore.
Analysis
Institutions participating in the CIS visit program reported that they were generally impressed by the calibre of students and saw it as a useful exercise to gain insights into local study trends and preferences. The Sri Lankan schools segment is growing in importance and Austrade is well-placed to facilitate access to local institutions, given sensitivities around engaging with education agents.