The Commercial Bank of Ceylon has entered into a partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF) to further enhance the Bank’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education projects and the delivery of STEM education to selected underperforming schools.
This initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Education comes a year after the Bank supported the setting up of 100 STEM smart classrooms islandwide to deliver digitised educational content.
Under the MoU signed with the NSF, the Bank’s CSR Trust will provide a list of schools to implement STEM projects and deliver logistical support to launch the STEM program and carry out impact assessments.
Recognising the rapid advancements in technology globally and the increasing demand for skilled professionals in the STEM fields, a Bank official said its CSR Trust chose to implement this project to prioritise STEM education in the local education system. For its part, the NSF will recommend schools deserving STEM education support, assist the Bank in selecting and evaluating education projects which would yield impact at national level, assist the Bank to design the training program, and perform impact assessments after the implementation of the STEM program.
Both parties will identify and implement interventions to address specific requirements of selected schools chosen for the program, among their other responsibilities listed in the agreement.
Commercial Bank Chief Financial Officer Nandika Buddhipala said, “The Bank decided to expand its efforts in the field of STEM education because this will help prepare students for the jobs of the future.
Many of the fastest-growing and highest-paying jobs in the modern economy are in STEM fields such as computer science, engineering, and data analysis. By providing students with a strong foundation in these subjects, we can ensure that the next generation of Sri Lanka is well-equipped to succeed in careers that are in demand.”
By partnering with a reputed government institution such as the NSF which is mandated to serve and strengthen the science and technology sectors in Sri Lanka, the Bank will benefit from the expertise it offers to further develop its STEM projects for the benefit of a larger group, he said.